Yesterday, Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe of the Ikeja Special Offences Court sentenced two individuals, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Adekunle, to seven years in prison each for impersonating Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials. The convicts had also attempted to use a forged court order to fraudulently obtain properties from their victims by posing as EFCC officials.
The defendants faced a five-count charge, including obtaining properties from citizens, possession of documents containing false pretense titled Chief Magistrate court, possession of documents containing false pretense titled the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), impersonation of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials and unlawfully wearing the uniform of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
When the charges were read aloud, the defendants pleaded guilty to all five counts. Following their guilty plea, prosecuting counsel Abdulhamid Lamido urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly. “My Lord, hearing the guilty plea of the defendants and the evidence brought before the court, I urge my Lord to convict and sentence the defendants accordingly.”
Justice Abike-Fadipe asked the defendants if they understood the charges, and they confirmed their guilt. The judge convicted them on the charge of “attempt to obtain properties by false pretense.” In their plea for leniency, the convicts asked for mercy and promised to refrain from criminal and nefarious activities in the future. The first defendant claimed to have received training and become a barber, while both defendants asserted they were honest about embracing reformation.
It remains to be seen if things progress to an appeal court for reduced jail time despite a guilty plea citing personal reforms
