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| The Defendant, Omafume Augustina Ayinuola, being taken to the prison |
For allegedly lying on oath to obtain an international passport, a Chartered Accountant, Omafume Augustina Ayinuola, was on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, arraigned before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos.
She was dragged before the court presided over by Justice Kehinde Olayiwola Ogundare by the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Chartered Accountant was arraigned on three counts of false information, concealment of material fact and false deposition on affidavit by the FCID.
It would be recalled that Omafume and her mother, Lydia Abosede Ehrievuyere, were formerly arraigned during the court’s long vacation on August 16, 2023, on criminal charges of conspiracy, forgery, stealing, and fraud of N1.072, 254 411 billion and $975, 102.58 respectively.
The Chartered Accountant had since been in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) sequel to a remand order issued by the court.
In arraigning the defendant, the prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun hinted to the court that the Chartered Accountant, on March 20, 2023, proceeded to Minna, Niger State capital, and procured, another international passport, in a bid to evade investigation and prosecution of an alleged crime of N1.072, 254 411 billion and $975, 102.58, being investigated by the Interpol Section of the ForceCID.
The prosecutor further informed the judge that the defendant, in a bid to procure the new international passport, knowingly concealed and failed to disclose the true material facts at Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Niger State Minna Command that her passport No. BO0939532 is not lost.
He equally informed Justice Ogundare that the Chartered Accountant also deposed to an affidavit at the High Court Minna, Niger State, stating that her International passport was lost in transit, a fact she knew to be false.
While insisting that the alleged offence is contrary to Sections 1(1) (d) and 1(1) (f) of the Passport Miscellaneous Provision Act 2004 and punishable under Section 1(2) of the same Passport (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2004, and Section 117 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of Federation 2004 (as amended) and punishable under Section 118 of the same Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of Federation 2004 (as amended).
But Ayinuola pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge.
This prompted the prosecutor to request a trial date, a development which the counsel for the defendant did not oppose.
Justice Ogundare adjourned the case until February 22 to 24 for trial.
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