A court in Lagos state has jailed two Nigerian visa applicants after it was discovered that they presented fake documents to the US Embassy.
A suspect
Two visa applicants, Olusola Alabi and Balogun Teslim, have been sentenced to two years in prison for presenting fake documents to the United States embassy, according to a report by Punch.
The two were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission before Justice Mojishola Dada of a Lagos State High Court, accusing them of violating Section 25(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
Speaking in a statement by its Spokesperson, Mrs. Rasheedat Okoduwa said that the convicts procured a false annual leave letter from the United Bank of Africa to mislead the US Consulate, Victoria Island, Lagos, into believing that they were employees of the bank in order to facilitate the approval of their visa applications
The commission subsequently arraigned them on three counts bordering on procuring false documents to mislead a constituted authority.
The court was told by ICPC that the offence committed by the accused persons violated Section 25(1) (a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and was punishable under the same section.
Counsel for the convicts pleaded with the court to show mercy to them, saying they were first-time offenders and had cooperated fully with the prosecution.
Justice Dada, in her ruling, sentenced them to two years imprisonment each with an option of fine.