A Chartered Accountant, Omafume Augustina Ayinuola, has been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for lying on Oath, to obtain an international passport.
Omafume was arraigned on Tuesday, before the court presided over by Justice Kehinde Olayiwola Ogundare, on a three count-charge of false information, concealment of material fact and false disposition on affidavit, by the operatives of Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
It would be recall that the Chartered Accountant, Omafume and her mother, Lydia Abosede Ehrievuyere, were formerly arraigned during the court long vacation, on August 16, 2023, on criminal charges of conspiracy, forgery, stealing, and fraud of N1.072, 254 411 billion and $975, 102.58 USD.
She has since be in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), sequel to a remand order issued by the court.
The prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, while arraigning the Chartered Accountant accountant, told the court that, the defendant on March 20, 2023, proceeded to Minna, Niger State capital, to procured another international passport, in a bid to evade investigation and prosecution of an alleged crime of N1.072, 254 411 billion and $975, 102.58 USD, being investigated by the Interpol Section of the ForceCID.
Animashaun also told the court that the defendant, in a bid to procured the new international passport, concealed and failed to disclose the true material facts at Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Niger State Minna Command that her passport No. BO0939532, was not lost.
He further told the court that the defendant also deposed to an affidavit at High Court Minna, Niger State, stating that her International passport was lost in transit, a fact she knew to be false.
He told the court that the alleged offences committed by the accountant are contrary to sections 1(1) (d) and 1(1) (f) of Passport Miscellaneous Provision Act 2004 and punishable under section 1(2) of same Passport (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2004. And section 117 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of Federation 2004 (as amended) and punishable under Section 118 of same Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of Federation 2004 (as amended)
The Accountant pleaded not guilty to the three count charge.
Consequently, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date.
Lawyer to the defendant, Olubusola Ashiru, did not opposed the prosecutor’s request.
Justice Ogundare thereafter adjourned the matter to February 22 to 24, for trial.
