Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has granted permission for a UK-based Nigerian, Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde, to testify remotely in an ongoing case. The court has scheduled May 7, 2026, for Makinde to give his testimony.
A travel agent, Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta, is on trial for allegedly arranging a sham marriage for Dolapo Afusat Yusuf to facilitate her travel abroad using the identity of Makinde, a Nigerian citizen residing in the UK. The court made this decision after considering a motion filed by the Inspector-General of Police to allow Makinde to testify remotely in the case.
The Investigating Police Officer, Monday Onoja, informed the court that after interrogating the defendant, Shitta could not produce the marriage certificate allegedly used to facilitate Yusuf's travel to the UK. Onoja stated that Shitta claimed the document had been deleted from their office system, and the police had written to the British High Commission to request the document but had yet to receive a response.
The decision by Justice Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo to allow Emmanuel Opeyemi Makinde to testify remotely is a crucial step in bringing Waliyu Aderibigbe Shitta to justice for his alleged role in a marriage scam. The case highlights the need for stricter regulations on travel agencies and the verification of documents to prevent such scams. The fact that the defendant could not produce the marriage certificate and claimed it had been deleted raises serious questions about the integrity of the travel agency. This case has significant implications for Nigerians who travel abroad, and it is essential that the authorities take concrete steps to prevent similar scams in the future.
