Court jails woman for forging NAFDAC employment letter to obtain UK visa

The Ikeja special offences court has sentenced one Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi to one year imprisonment with an option of a fine of N500,000 — for forging the employment letter of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Balogun-Okedeyi was initially arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on forgery by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In a statement, John Odey, ICPC spokesperson, said the charge was sequel to a petition by the British deputy high commission that exposed a visa racketeering syndicate allegedly led by one Olusegun Ojo Adigun.

The ICPC spokesperson said the syndicate was linked to at least 16 visa applications and specialised in facilitating travel to the United Kingdom using falsified supporting documents.

THE TRIAL

During the trial, Balogun-Okedeyi, through Grace Adenubi, her counsel, sought a plea bargain arrangement.

Subsequently, the ICPC agreed with the plea bargain option.

The anti-graft agency later amended the charges to a one-count charge with the defendant pleading guilty.

Mojisola Dada, the trial judge, thereafter sentenced the defendant, with the fine to be paid to the federal government within seven days.

The judge also meted two days of community service outside the court premises.

She also directed the defendant to enter into a bond of good behaviour to be recorded in the Lagos state judiciary database.(TheCable)