Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, has sentenced a United Kingdom visa applicant, Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi to one year imprisonment for visa fraud.
Justice Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Court 13, convicted and sentenced the defendant following her prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In the suit case, filed under Charge No. ID/27346C/2025 (FRN v. Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi), the ICPC argued that the defendant forged employment documents of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to facilitate a fraudulent visa application.
The agency said this followed investigations into a visa fraud scheme in which the defendant falsely presented herself as an employee of NAFDAC, using forged employment and promotion letters, an identity card, and an introduction letter purportedly issued by the commission.
It said the investigation originated from a petition by the British Deputy High Commission that exposed a visa racketeering syndicate allegedly led by Olusegun Ojo Adigun.
The ICPC further revealed that the syndicate was linked to at least sixteen visa applications and specialised in facilitating travel to the United Kingdom using falsified supporting documents.
“At the centre of the case was the defendant’s deliberate misrepresentation of her employment status.
“Findings established that she was never employed by NAFDAC, rendering all documents attributed to the agency, false and misleading.
“In addition to the forged NAFDAC documents, the defendant also submitted a falsified bank statement allegedly issued by Chanelle Microfinance Bank for the period of January to July 2025. Investigations, however, confirmed that she did not operate any account with the bank.
“Following the investigation, the defendant was charged with a six-count charge bordering on forgery and provision of false information, contrary to Sections 13 and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000,” the commission disclosed in a statement.
The defendant, through her counsel, Grace Adenubi (Esq.), sought a plea bargain arrangement, which was agreed to by the commission and her charges were subsequently amended to a one-count information, to which she pleaded guilty.
The prosecution team—Yvonne William-Mbata, Roseline Eze, and Oluwayemisi Pereira—presented evidence through an investigator, Onyemauchechukwu Ezike, who tendered documentary exhibits before the court.
In her judgment, Justice Dada sentenced the defendant to one year imprisonment, with an option of fine of N500,000 payable to the Federal Government within seven days.
The court further ordered two days of community service to be carried out outside the court premises and directed the defendant to enter into a bond of good behaviour to be recorded in the Lagos State Judiciary database.
