NAN-H-67
Impersonation
By Deborah Akpede
Lagos, Feb. 2, 2017 (NAN)An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos on Thursday granted two accused persons N50,000 bail over allegation of impersonation, conspiracy and unlawful possession.
The accused are 62-year-old businessman, Banjo Awolope and his accomplice, Abiodun Mathew, 20.
They are standing trial on a three-count charge of alleged conspiracy, unlawful possession and impersonation.
The Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje, granted each of the accused N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum after the duo pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Insp Essien Ndarake, said the accused committed the offence on Jan.9, at Muritala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA).
He told the court that the Awolope conspired with Mathew and fraudulently presented her to pretend to be one Miss Seun Adeleke, whose international passport bore number A07486931.
“The accused used another person’s passport to travel out of Nigeria through Ethiopia Airline to Dubai,” he said.
Ndarake alleged that Awolope, who was into human trafficking business, gave Adeleke’s international passport to Mathew, who presented same at the Dubai airport but was deported when immigration discovered the fraud.
He said, “when she got to the Nigeria airport, she confessed and provided the information on how to get Awolope.
“Immigration officials then called Awolope under the pretext of seeking his services and was arrested on arrival,” he said.
He said the offences contravened Sections 380, 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused pleaded not guilty and they were granted bail each in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties each in like sum.
The case was adjourned to Feb. 16 for mention. (NAN)
DOA/MO
=========Edited by Morayo Omolade