Court convicts photographer for yellow card forgery

He was, however, remanded in the custody of Kuje prison pending his sentence. The convict, who was arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had denied committing the offences. Mr Osuobeni Akponmisingha, the ICPC prosecuting counsel, alleged that Josiah had sold a yellow card with serial number A061720, to one of the commission’s officers for the sum of N2,000 before he was arrested. The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 368; 97 of the Penal Code, and CAP 532; laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 2006. Justice Olukayode Adeniyi, who declared the convict guilty, said that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the convict was in possession of the forged yellow card. Adeniyi held that the confessional voluntary statement, in which the convict admitted to have sold the yellow card to the disguised ICPC officer, was enough proof on which a man could be convicted. The judge also said that the prosecution had satisfactorily established that the convict conspired with an accomplice, now at large, to sell fake yellow cards. “I hereby enter a verdict of `guilty’ for him,’’ the judge said. He said: Based on the evidence before the court, the prosecution has proved the charge of forgery and conspiracy against the convict beyond reasonable doubt. “The convict is hereby declared guilty and remanded in Kuje Prison custody till Jan. 24 for sentencing,” Adeniyi ruled. Josiah was arraigned in court on November 24, 2014. He was arrested at the Indian High Commission, Abuja, on Oct. 24, 2014, where he was selling yellow cards for visa applicants. NAN ]]>