In a significant ruling, Justice Abike-Fadipe of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja has sentenced Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadia Adekunle to a total of 46 years in prison. The two were found guilty of impersonating officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and executing a fraudulent court order.
According to a statement from the EFCC dated Saturday, June 15, Chijioke and Adekunle were re-arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Command on an amended five-count charge. The charges included impersonation, attempting to obtain property by false pretenses, possessing documents with false pretenses, and unlawfully wearing EFCC uniforms.
One of the charges stated:
“On or about May 12, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, by false pretence and with intent to defraud, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadia Adekunle attempted to obtain property from Oriyomi Johnson. They falsely claimed that the ‘Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos State Judiciary, Mushin, Lagos’ issued an order to seize and seal a property at New Horizon Estate, Lekki-Ikate, Lagos, pending Johnson’s arrival. This representation was known to be false, thus constituting an offence under Sections 8(b) and 11(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”
Another charge detailed:
“On or about May 12, 2021, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, Ugwu Pascal Chijioke and Ibrahim Sadia Adekunle, without holding any office or authority in the EFCC, wore jackets bearing the official mark of the Commission. This act was intended to convey the false impression of their authority, constituting an offence under Section 79(1)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
The case underscores the serious consequences of fraud and impersonation, emphasizing the judiciary’s commitment to upholding the law and protecting the public from such criminal activities.