court
Judiciary
Woman Bags
court
Judiciary
Woman Bags 22 Years over Fake Traveling
Document
A Lagos High Court sitting at Igbosere has sentenced a woman,
Mrs Philomena Nwanorue to 22 years in prison for falsification of
documents.
The convict was arraigned alongside Mrs. Adeline Ifeyinwa Eke
Alu by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences
Commission (ICPC) on a 5-count charge of conspiracy and submission
of falsified travelling documents to the Indian High Commission,
contrary to Section 22 (1) (C) and punishable under Section 17 (1)
(C); Section 26 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 13 of the
Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000.
The court, presided over by Justice Lawal Akapo, found Mrs Eke
Alu not guilty as it was its view that she was also a victim of the
convict. She was consequently discharged and acquitted.
The judge, on the other hand, found Mrs. Nwanorue guilty on all
the counts, but requested to know from ICPC prosecutors, Mr. Kabir
Elelu and Mrs. Yvonne William Mbata as to whether she had had any
previous record of conviction.
Responding, the prosecution team cleared her of any previous
wrong-doing, prompting the convict’s counsel, Mr. Chris Obiaka to
request the court to temper justice with mercy considering the
health condition of his client, which was why she needed to travel
to India.
The judge then sentenced Mrs. Nwanorue on each of 4 counts to 5
years imprisonment and 2 years on the 5th count, noting that
punishments are given “to ensure that Nigeria is a country with
law-abiding citizens”.
The sentences are to run concurrently.
Signed: Mrs. Rasheedat A. Okoduwa, mni
Spokesperson for the Commission