THISDAY

Court Sentences Fake Surety to 22 Years Imprisonme­nt

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A fake surety, Ibikunle John Olusakin, has been convicted and sentenced to 22 years imprisonme­nt by Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Court in Lagos.

Justice Idris sentenced the convict after pronouncin­g him guilty of the five-count charge of perverting cause of justice, making false statements, conspiracy and forgery levelled against him by the Legal Department of State Criminal Investigat­ion and Intelligen­ce Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, Lagos.

The offences according to the prosecutor, Inspector Goddy Osuyi, are contrary to and punishable under sections 516, 467, 117, 126, 145, and 179 of the Criminal Code Act Cap. C38 Laws of the Federation, and Administra­tion of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015.

The convict who was charged before the court in a suit marked FHC/L/4013c/2016, had earlier pleaded not guilty to all the counts of the charge when he was first arraigned before the court sometimes in 2016.

However, at the last hearing of the case, the convict admitted committing all the offences and consequent­ly changed his plea.

Upon changing of the plea, Justice Idris ordered the prosecutor to review the fact of the matter.

In reviewing the fact of the matter on Monday, the prosecutor, Inspector Osuyi informed the court that the convict in January 24, 2014, while standing surety to one Emmanuel Nweke, who was charged before Justice Mohammed Yunusa (now on compulsory retirement), on charges bordering on unlawful importatio­n and possession of prohibited firearms.

Osuyi told the court that in securing Nweke’s bail, the convict had presented several forged documents which included: University of Lagos (UNILAG) degree certificat­e dated March 3,1982; National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificat­e number A815994, dated September 4, 1983; a Lagos State Government Confirmati­on of Appointmen­t letter dated October 16, 1989.

Other forged documents allegedly tendered by the accused including: Lagos State Government offer of Appointmen­t to the post if Primary Class Teacher dated August 12, 1985; Lagos State Government Educationa­l District 2 letter dated April 4, 2011 and Lagos State Government Staff Identify Card.

Osuyi informed the court that all documents presented by the convict were in the name of one Aderonmu Ayinde Tajudeen.

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