A 62-year-old Nigerian businessman was recently detained after making a payment in an IVF facility in India with counterfeit cash.
Omoidada Omoragbon, a Nigerian, used bogus notes to pay a portion of Rs 1.16 lakh (roughly $1,457) for his wife’s medical treatment.
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According to The Times of India, the clinic discovered 58 counterfeit Rs 2,000 notes after the bank’s verification process rejected them, but the treatment cost a total of Rs 1.28 lakh.
A Mumbai court last Thursday denied the accused’s bail application, citing evidence that he was involved in the preparation of counterfeit notes in collaboration with a now-fugitive accused Bulket.
“At this point, that is, at the time of the filing of (the) charge sheet, it cannot be argued that there is no evidence against the accused and that he was not involved in the conduct of (an) offence.” The accused is from Nigeria and has a connection to Bulket, who is on the run.
“In such circumstances, if the accused is granted bail, there is a risk that he will tamper with evidence and flee India,” the court stated.
Omoragbon refuted the charges, claiming that no evidence was presented against him. He further claimed that either IVF center workers or bank officials tampered with the notes, but the court dismissed his claims.
Until proven guilty, the Nigerian is presumed innocent.
