UK Visa Applicant Sentenced To 3 Years For Lying About His Marital Status

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday sentenced a UK visa
applicant, Kolawole Viyon, to three years imprisonment for giving
false information about his marital status.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Viyon for allegedly lying about his
marital status.

Justice Mojisola Dada, who gave the ruling, said the accused was
guilty as charged.

Following a plea bargain entered into with the prosecution, the
judge, however, gave Viyon an option of N300,000 fine.

“Following the defendant’s guilty plea, he is hereby convicted
accordingly.

“The terms of the plea bargain agreement are hereby adopted as
the sentence of this court and the judgment thereof.

“He is hereby sentenced to three years imprisonment or the fine
imposed,” the judge said.

The judge, however, noted that if the fine was not paid within
24 hours, “ Viyon will have to mandatorily serve his prison
term.”

But the convicts’ counsel, Ms Hannah Adeyemi, told the court
that he was ready with the N300,000 cash to effect the court’s
judgment.

ICPC through its counsel, Mr Gogodoye West, told the court that
the defendant with another, Olaronke Akerele, committed the offence
on Dec. 13, 2016,
at the ICPC Lagos Zonal Office.

West said officials of the British High Commission had in 2016
handed over the Viyon and his accomplice, now at large, to the
ICPC, for giving false information in their visa application
forms.

He told the court that “in his extra-judicial statement
volunteered under caution before Mrs Nkem Ezenwa, an investigating
officer with the ICPC, made a false statement that Olaronke Akerele
is his third and legally married wife.

“Viyon informed Ezenwa and Mr Kenneth Agba, another
investigating officer of the ICPC, that the marriage ceremony
between himself and Akerele was conducted by an Imam under Islamic
law.

“The defendant said the marriage was evidenced by a certificate
of marriage with number JUN/LB/0000064 which is dated Jan. 9, 2016
and issued by the Jama-at-ul-Islamiyya of Nigeria.

“Viyon also lied that he had signed the certificate of marriage
and that the ceremony was conducted at No. 108, Tokunboh St., Lagos
Island, Lagos,” the prosecutor said.

West, however, told the court that investigation revealed that
there was neither marriage contracted between Viyon and Akerele nor
a certificate of marriage issued by the Jama-at-ul-Islamiyya of
Nigeria to that effect.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Viyon had pleaded
guilty to an amended three-count charge bordering on knowingly
making statements which are false.

But prior to his plea bargain, the prosecution applied to the
court for the withdrawal of the charge against Akelere, who had
since absconded.

“The application for withdrawal has become necessary since she
has been on the run and we have been unable to apprehend her.”

The offences violated Section (1)(b) and 25 (1), (a) of the
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.

An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Tuesday sentenced a UK visa
applicant, Kolawole Viyon, to three years imprisonment for giving
false information about his marital status.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Viyon for allegedly lying about his
marital status.

Justice Mojisola Dada, who gave the ruling, said the accused was
guilty as charged.

Following a plea bargain entered into with the prosecution, the
judge, however, gave Viyon an option of N300,000 fine.

“Following the defendant’s guilty plea, he is hereby convicted
accordingly.

“The terms of the plea bargain agreement are hereby adopted as
the sentence of this court and the judgment thereof.

“He is hereby sentenced to three years imprisonment or the fine
imposed,” the judge said.

The judge, however, noted that if the fine was not paid within
24 hours, “ Viyon will have to mandatorily serve his prison
term.”

But the convicts’ counsel, Ms Hannah Adeyemi, told the court
that he was ready with the N300,000 cash to effect the court’s
judgment.

ICPC through its counsel, Mr Gogodoye West, told the court that
the defendant with another, Olaronke Akerele, committed the offence
on Dec. 13, 2016,
at the ICPC Lagos Zonal Office.

West said officials of the British High Commission had in 2016
handed over the Viyon and his accomplice, now at large, to the
ICPC, for giving false information in their visa application
forms.

He told the court that “in his extra-judicial statement
volunteered under caution before Mrs Nkem Ezenwa, an investigating
officer with the ICPC, made a false statement that Olaronke Akerele
is his third and legally married wife.

“Viyon informed Ezenwa and Mr Kenneth Agba, another
investigating officer of the ICPC, that the marriage ceremony
between himself and Akerele was conducted by an Imam under Islamic
law.

“The defendant said the marriage was evidenced by a certificate
of marriage with number JUN/LB/0000064 which is dated Jan. 9, 2016
and issued by the Jama-at-ul-Islamiyya of Nigeria.

“Viyon also lied that he had signed the certificate of marriage
and that the ceremony was conducted at No. 108, Tokunboh St., Lagos
Island, Lagos,” the prosecutor said.

West, however, told the court that investigation revealed that
there was neither marriage contracted between Viyon and Akerele nor
a certificate of marriage issued by the Jama-at-ul-Islamiyya of
Nigeria to that effect.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, Viyon had pleaded
guilty to an amended three-count charge bordering on knowingly
making statements which are false.

But prior to his plea bargain, the prosecution applied to the
court for the withdrawal of the charge against Akelere, who had
since absconded.

“The application for withdrawal has become necessary since she
has been on the run and we have been unable to apprehend her.”

The offences violated Section (1)(b) and 25 (1), (a) of the
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.