An Ikeja Special Offences Court in Lagos State has sentenced Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi to one-year imprisonment for forgery after she was found guilty of submitting forged employment records and bank statements in a bid to secure a United Kingdom visa.
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) was able to secure the conviction following 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 agency.
The case, filed under Charge No. ID/27346C/2025 (FRN v. Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi), originated from a petition by the British Deputy High Commission that exposed a visa racketeering syndicate allegedly led by Olusegun Ojo Adigun.
Further investigations by the commission 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 center 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.
After the investigation, the defendant was accused of six counts related to forgery and giving false information, which goes against Sections 13 and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The matter was heard before the Honorable Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, Court 13.
During proceedings, the defendant, through her counsel, Grace Adenubi (Esq.), sought a plea bargain arrangement, which was agreed to by the Commission.
The charge was subsequently amended to one-count information, for 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 of imprisonment, with an option of a fine of ₦500,000 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 behavior to be recorded in the Lagos State Judiciary database.
The conviction highlights the Commission’s resolve to clamp down on the falsification of official documents, particularly the impersonation of government institutions such as NAFDAC for fraudulent purposes.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
