Two Cameroonians jailed for illegally acquiring Nigerian passports

Justice I. M. Sanni of the Federal High Court sitting in
Uyo on Friday sentenced two Cameroonians, Ebwe Michael and Ngu Tiku
to 18 years imprisonment each for illegally acquiring Nigerian
Passports.

Mr Sanni, however, gave the defendants an option to pay N500,000
each as fine.

The judge, while sentencing the convicts, said the court was
lenient on them because they pleaded guilty and did not waste the
time of the court.

He also said the convicts were first offenders.

Mr Sanni ordered that if the convicts failed to pay the fine,
they will serve their sentences in Nigeria and would be deported
after completion of their sentences.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, the prosecution
counsel, David Babale, said the first convict, Michael, 43, in 2012
acquired a Nigerian passport without being detected.

Mr Babale said luck, however, ran out on him when he came for
re-issue in March 2018 with the second defendant, Tiku, 35, when
they were caught by a vigilant Immigration Officer in Uyo.

Also speaking, the defence counsel, Mfon Uyoh, said he was
satisfied with the judgment.

According to him, the Judge was lenient with the accused because
they pleaded guilty and did not waste the time of the court.

“It was a good judgment in the sense that the judge has to be
lenient on the convicts. He did not impose the maximum sentence on
them.

“They are remorseful, pleaded guilty and did not waste the time
of the court,” he said. (NAN)

Justice I. M. Sanni of the Federal High Court sitting in
Uyo on Friday sentenced two Cameroonians, Ebwe Michael and Ngu Tiku
to 18 years imprisonment each for illegally acquiring Nigerian
Passports.

Mr Sanni, however, gave the defendants an option to pay N500,000
each as fine.

The judge, while sentencing the convicts, said the court was
lenient on them because they pleaded guilty and did not waste the
time of the court.

He also said the convicts were first offenders.

Mr Sanni ordered that if the convicts failed to pay the fine,
they will serve their sentences in Nigeria and would be deported
after completion of their sentences.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, the prosecution
counsel, David Babale, said the first convict, Michael, 43, in 2012
acquired a Nigerian passport without being detected.

Mr Babale said luck, however, ran out on him when he came for
re-issue in March 2018 with the second defendant, Tiku, 35, when
they were caught by a vigilant Immigration Officer in Uyo.

Also speaking, the defence counsel, Mfon Uyoh, said he was
satisfied with the judgment.

According to him, the Judge was lenient with the accused because
they pleaded guilty and did not waste the time of the court.

“It was a good judgment in the sense that the judge has to be
lenient on the convicts. He did not impose the maximum sentence on
them.

“They are remorseful, pleaded guilty and did not waste the time
of the court,” he said. (NAN)