A 30-year-old man, Toluwalope Akanni, was on Thursday arraigned
before Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly impersonating a
House of Representatives member to defraud the public.
Akanni, who lives at Madogun area of Oke-ara in Ogun State, is
facing a seven-count charge bordering on forgery, stealing and
breach of the peace.
The prosecutor, Mr. Augustine Nwabuisi, said the defendant
committed the offence on June 10 at Ijaye Ojokoro, Lagos.
He alleged that the defendant forged an Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) Certificate of Return to claim that he
is a House of Representatives member.
Nwabuisi alleged that the defendant convened a meeting where he
solicited for funds from people for his inauguration.
He said Akanni told some of his victims that he would secure
federal appointments for them.
Nwabuisi also alleged that the defendant collected N665,000 and
a new Samsung S9+ worth N260,000 from Miss Jessica Eyimofe.
Akanni, the prosecutor claimed, collected N430,000 from Mrs.
Dolapo Tunner and N125,000 from Mr. Odulanmi Murtala, who he
promised to secure jobs for.
“My lord, the defendant also claimed to be a lawyer; he told
everyone that he had won the election.
“He also collected some money from members of his church with
this scam.
“He went as far as taking people to Abuja under the guise of
going for his inauguration.
“He forged INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu’s signature and
the INEC seal on the certificate of return,” the prosecutor
said.
Magistrate S. O. Obasa granted the defendant N500,000 bail with
two sureties in the like sum.
She ordered that the sureties must be above 40 and live within
the court’s jurisdiction.
Obasa said the sureties must show evidence of three years tax
payment to the Lagos State Government.
She ruled that one of the sureties must be the defendant’s
relation.
The case continues on August 20.