The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned a visa agent, Adediwura Adesina Stanley, before the Lagos State High Court over alleged forgery and the use of false documents in an attempt to obtain a United Kingdom visa.
Stanley was arraigned on March 11, 2026, before Justice I. Ijelu in a case marked Charge No: ID/27584C/2026.
According to the ICPC, the defendant allegedly conspired with two other individuals, Olufemi Samuel Adewunmi and Oluwayemi Oyinkan, to forge financial documents intended to deceive the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the UK Home Office.
The prosecution told the court that the forged documents included a corporate payslip and a bank statement allegedly issued by United Bank for Africa, which were prepared and submitted to facilitate the grant of a UK visa.
A prosecution counsel, Yvonne Williams-Mbata, told the court that the defendant allegedly participated in the preparation and use of documents containing false financial information.
“The defendant, alongside two others now at large, allegedly conspired to prepare and submit forged financial documents with the intent of deceiving the United Kingdom Visas and Immigration authorities,” she said.
The Commission stated that Stanley is facing charges under Sections 516 and 467 of the Criminal Code Act for conspiracy to forge and forgery.
He was also charged under Section 17(1)(c) of the ICPC Act 2000 for knowingly using documents containing false statements with intent to deceive, as well as Section 25(1)(a) of the same Act for allegedly making false statements to a public officer.
During the proceedings, the defence counsel moved an application for bail for the defendant. However, the prosecution opposed the application, arguing that granting bail could jeopardise the case.
Williams-Mbata told the court.
“The prosecution is concerned that the defendant may interfere with witnesses or evade trial if admitted to bail, considering the nature of the allegations before this honourable court.”
A legal issue also arose when defence counsel informed the court that he had filed a reply to the prosecution’s counter-affidavit.
However, Justice Ijelu noted that the prevailing procedural law does not recognise such a reply under the circumstances.
“The rules of this court do not provide for a reply to a counter-affidavit in this instance,” the judge said while addressing the parties.
Despite the prosecution’s objections, the court granted Stanley bail in the sum of ₦10 million with two sureties in like sum.
Justice Ijelu ruled that one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant and resident in Lagos State, while both sureties must provide evidence of tax payment, proof of means of livelihood, and verifiable residential addresses.
“One of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant and must reside within Lagos State. Both sureties shall provide evidence of tax payment and verifiable addresses,” the judge ruled.
The court also ordered the sureties to swear an affidavit undertaking that the defendant will not leave the country while the case is pending.
In addition, the defendant was directed to deposit his international passport with the court registry and barred from travelling outside Nigeria throughout the duration of the trial.
Justice Ijelu subsequently adjourned the case to April 1, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
ICPC spokesperson, J. Okor Odey, said the arraignment reflects the Commission’s commitment to tackling corruption and the use of falsified documents in visa applications.
“The Commission remains committed to ensuring that individuals who attempt to circumvent due process through forged documents are brought to justice,” Odey said.