Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced one Ibikunle Olusakin to seven years imprisonment for submitting fake documents while standing as surety to secure bail for one Emmanuel Nweke, who was charged with unlawful importation and possession of prohibited firearms.
The police had charged Olusakin with five counts bordering on conspiracy, perversion of the course of justice, forgery and making false statements.
The prosecuting counsel for police, Goddy Osuyi, told the court that the police discovered that the documents submitted by Olusakin to secure bail for Nweke were fake after the accused had jumped bail and absconded.
He said following Nweke’s disappearance, it took the joint efforts of the police, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, to arrest Olusakin two years after.
According to Osuyi, among the fake documents submitted by Olusakin to secure bail for Nweke were a forged University of Lagos degree certificate dated March 3, 1982; a National Youth Service Corps certificate with number A815994, dated September 4, 1983; a Lagos State Government Confirmation of Appointment letter dated October 16, 1989.
Olusakin, according to the police, also submitted a forged Lagos State Government Offer of Appointment to the post of a primary school class teacher dated August 12, 1985; a forged Lagos State Government Educational District 2 letter dated April 4, 2011 and a forged Lagos State Government Staff Identify Card.
The police said it discovered that all the documents bore the name of one Aderonmu Ayinde Tajudeen, while Olusakin lied on oath about his real name, his address, his relationship with Nweke, his annual income, occupation, and place of work.
The prosecutor told the court that Olusakin acted contrary to 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 of 2015.
Upon his arraignment last year, Olusakin had pleaded not guilty. He, however, changed his mind later and pleaded guilty to the five charges pressed against him by the police.
On Monday, Justice Idris convicted Olusakin of the five counts.
The judge sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment on each of counts one and three.
On count two and three, the judge imposed a prison term of three years each; count four, one and a half year and on count five, six months’ imprison.
The judge said the prison terms would run concurrently
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