The Unbiased Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Fee (ICPC) has secured the conviction of 1 Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi for forging employment paperwork of the Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management (NAFDAC) to facilitate a fraudulent visa software.
ICPC Spokesperson, John Odey, in a press assertion in Abuja, stated the conviction adopted investigations right into a visa fraud scheme wherein the defendant falsely offered herself as an worker of NAFDAC, utilizing cast employment and promotion letters, an identification card, and an introduction letter purportedly issued by the company.
He stated the case, filed underneath Cost No. ID/27346C/2025 (FRN v. Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi), originated from a petition by the British Deputy Excessive Fee that uncovered a visa racketeering syndicate allegedly led by Olusegun Ojo Adigun.
Additional investigations by the Fee revealed that the syndicate was linked to a minimum of sixteen visa purposes and specialised in facilitating journey to the UK utilizing falsified supporting paperwork.
On the centre of the case was the defendant’s deliberate misrepresentation of her employment standing.
Findings established that she was by no means employed by NAFDAC, rendering all paperwork attributed to the company, false and deceptive.
Along with the cast NAFDAC paperwork, the defendant additionally submitted a falsified {bank} assertion allegedly issued by Chanelle Microfinance {Bank} for the interval of January to July 2025.
Odey stated investigations, nevertheless, confirmed that she didn’t function any account with the {bank}.
He stated following the investigation, the defendant was charged with a six-count cost bordering on forgery and provision of false data, opposite to Sections 13 and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000.
The matter was heard earlier than Honourable Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Particular Offences Courtroom, Courtroom 13.
Throughout proceedings, the defendant, by her counsel, Grace Adenubi (Esq.), sought a plea discount association, which was agreed to by the Fee.
The cost was subsequently amended to a one-count data, to which she pleaded responsible.
The prosecution staff, Yvonne William-Mbata, Roseline Eze, and Oluwayemisi Pereira, offered proof by an investigator, Onyemauchechukwu Ezike, who tendered documentary displays earlier than the court docket.
In her judgment, Justice Dada sentenced the defendant to 1 12 months imprisonment, with an choice of a positive of ₦500,000 payable to the federal authorities inside seven days. The court docket additional ordered two days of group service to be carried out outdoors the court docket premises and directed the defendant to enter right into a bond of excellent behaviour to be recorded within the Lagos State Judiciary database.
Odey stated the conviction highlights the Fee’s resolve to clamp down on the falsification of official paperwork, notably the impersonation of presidency establishments equivalent to NAFDAC for fraudulent functions.