In a landmark judgment, the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, has delivered justice by sentencing Ugwu Chijioke and Ibrahim Adekunle to a combined 46 years in jail for impersonating operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and executing a fake court order.
This significant development was announced by the EFCC in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Sunday.
The anti-graft agency revealed that the convicts were apprehended in May 2021 at New Horizon Estate, Lekki, Lagos, following credible intelligence received by the commission. The arrests were made while they were engaged in an illegal operation.
During their arrest, law enforcement recovered incriminating evidence including fake EFCC identity cards, jackets, and a court order purportedly from the Mushin Magistrate Court, further solidifying the case against them.
Following their apprehension, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadiq Adekunle were brought before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe on October 12, 2021, by the Lagos Command of the EFCC. They faced an amended five-count charge, including impersonation, attempted property fraud, possession of false documents, and unlawful wearing of the EFCC uniform.
The charges against them were detailed in the statement: “That you, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadiq Adekunle, on or about the 12th day of May 2021 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, attempted to obtain property from one Oriyomi Johnson under the pretext that the ‘Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos State Judiciary, Mushin, Lagos’ issued an order to the effect that the property located at New Horizon Estate, Lekki-Ikate, Lagos be seized and the said apartment sealed pending the arrival of the said Oriyomi Johnson, which representation you knew to be false and committed an offence of attempt to obtain property by false pretence contrary to Sections 8(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 11(3) of the same Act.”
The statement further highlighted the charges: “That you, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadiq Adekunle, on or about May 12, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court not being a person holding any office in or authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, wore a jacket bearing the official mark of the commission, which was calculated to convey the impression that you held such authority and committed an offence of unlawfully wearing the uniform of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission contrary to Section 79(1) (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
The charges laid out in the statement highlighted the gravity of their offenses, including attempted property fraud and unlawful impersonation of EFCC officials. These charges demonstrated the extent of their fraudulent activities and their attempt to deceive individuals using fake documents and EFCC paraphernalia.
Upon hearing the charges, the suspects admitted to be guilty, prompting the prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid Tukur, to present an overview of the case facts. Tukur then urged the court to pronounce a guilty verdict and impose appropriate sentences in light of their admissions.
Justice Abike-Fadipe found them guilty as charged on counts one, two, three, four and five.
The defendants, however, pleaded with the judge for mercy.
In her judgment, Justice Abike-Fadipe convicted Chijioke and Adekunle to seven years each on counts one to three, one year on count four and eight months on count five.
“Delivering judgment, Justice Abike-Fadipe sentenced the defendants each to seven years on counts one to three each, one year on count four and eight months on count five.
“The sentences are to run concurrently.”
PUNCH Online reported on May 2 that the Nasarawa State Police Command arrested three fake officials of the EFCC in the Nasarawa Local Government Area of the State.
According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ramhan Nansel, the suspects carried out an attack near the Federal Polytechnic in the Nasarawa Local Government Area. During the incident, they robbed individuals of their possessions and went on to kidnap a National Diploma student of the institution, Adudu Kingsley.
Nansel clarified that after the abduction, the victim was later released unharmed. The successful resolution came as a result of diligent efforts by officers of the command, who worked tirelessly to track down the suspects and ensure the safe release of the victim.
