Fake EFCC detectives jailed 46 years over fraud, impersonation
Two men who claimed to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have been jailed for 46 years for offences that bordered on impersonation and fraud.
The two fake operatives Ugwu Chijioke and Ibrahim Adekunle, were arrested in May 2021 at New Horizon Estate, Lekki, Lagos, while executing a fake court order following credible intelligence received by the commission.
According to the spokesman of the commission, Dele Oyewale, items recovered from the criminals at the point of arrest included fake EFCC identity cards, jackets and a court order allegedly from Mushin Magistrate Court.
They were subsequently arraigned on October 12, 2021 by the Lagos Zonal Command of the EFCC on a five-count charge, amended to include impersonation, attempted property fraud, possession of false documents, and unlawful use of the EFCC uniform.
The suspects were arraigned before Justice O.O. Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, where they pleaded guilty to the charges.
After their guilty pleas, prosecution counsel Abdulhamid Tukur, presented a review of the case facts, demonstrating their guilt. Tukur then requested the court to deliver a guilty verdict and impose the corresponding sentences.
Justice Abike-Fadipe found them guilty as charged on counts one, two, three, four and five. The defendants, who were given an opportunity to address the court, pleaded for mercy.
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.