Man ‘impersonates’ lawmaker, ‘forges’ INEC seal

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.