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Court Jails Fake Army General Seven Years Over N266.5m Fraud
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday, convicted and sentenced a fake Army General, Bolarinwa Abiodun, to seven years in prison.
He was convicted on a 13-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence, forgery of documents and possession of documents containing false pretence to the tune of N266,500,000.00.
The offences are contrary to Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006; Section 363 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 and Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences Act No 14 of 2006, respectively.
The defendant, who was prosecuted by the Lagos Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), posed as a General in the Nigerian Army and was accused of making false representations to the complainant, Kodef Clearing Resources, to the effect that President Muhammadu Buhari, had short-listed him and one other to be appointed as the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and that he needed a short grant to “press and process the appointment.”
Abiodun, who was arrested at his house in Alagbado area of Lagos State on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, was also accused of forging a letter of appointment as COAS purportedly signed by the president, and showed the same to the victim to further prove his claim.
In the said letter, he claimed that he needed to pay a certain amount of money into the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria, as part of the requirements for the appointment as COAS.
Abiodun was also accused of forging a Nigeria Army Identity Card with serial number 387140, claiming the same to have been issued to him from the Nigerian Army, and another forged Letter of Recommendation purportedly signed by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo recommending one Adebayo Rasaq Adebola, with recruitment No 77RRI/OG/556/0032555 and Adeogun Emmanuel Adesola with recruitment No 77RRI/OG/352/0123751 for employment into the Nigeria Army.
He was also accused of being in possession of a forged Certificate of Confirmation dated November 7, 2018, purporting the same to have emanated from the Nigerian Army Headquarters.
He was also accused of being in possession of a forged document titled: Letter of Authorisation, purportedly signed by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo permitting one Bamidele Olusegun Safiriyu of De-Rock Maritime Resource L.T.D. to enter Apapa Port freely and load their truck.
One of the counts reads: “Bolarinwa Oluwasegun Abiodun, between June 15, 2020 and December 31, 2020 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud and whilst holding yourself out as a General in the Nigerian Army, obtained the sum of N111,400,000 from Kodef Clearing Resources Limited, under the pretence that the sum represented part of the amount expended to “press and process” your incoming appointment by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, as the Chief Of Army Staff of the Nigerian Army, which pretence you knew to be false.”
Another count reads: “Bolarinwa Oluwasegun Abiodun, sometime in May, 2020 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly forged Letter Of Appointment As Chief Of Army Staff dated May 20, 2020, and purported the said document to have emanated from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which document you know to be false.”
He had pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when he was first arraigned on April 11, 2022.
Justice Taiwo had also on April 25, 2022, denied him bail, holding that the facts presented by the prosecution showed that he was a flight-risk, and so instead, ordered accelerated hearing.
In the course of the trial, the prosecuting team, Rotimi Oyedepo, A.O. Muhammed, S.I. Suleiman and E.K. Uduak, presented six witnesses, and tendered documentary evidence to prove the case against him.
The prosecution opened its case on April 25, 2022, and closed its case on June 20, 2022.
Thereafter, the defendant was ordered to open his defence.
However, at yesterday’s sitting, the defence counsel, Otunba Ogunleye, informed the court that his client had decided to change his plea, “rather than going through the rigours of defence”.
There was no objection raised by the lead prosecuting counsel, Oyedepo, who noted that “the defendant has the constitutional right to do so, and we are still standing on the same charges.”
Thereafter, the 13 counts were read afresh to him.
“I’m guilty,” he said to all the counts.
Following his guilty plea, Oyedepo gave a review of the facts, urging the court to rely on the evidence of the six witnesses presented by the prosecution and the various documents tendered through them as Exhibit A to W.
He said: “We seek to rely on the unequivocal admission of the defendant by way of his plea admitting the essential ingredients of the offence against him.
“The law is trite; when the defendant pleads guilty to an offence, the burden on the prosecution is as light as feather.
“Even on the strength of his extra-judicial statement, it’s clear as crystal that the defendant admitted to the essential ingredients of the offences alleged against him.
“We seek your lordship’s order to convict the defendant as charged.”
Thereafter, Justice Taiwo convicted him as charged.
Ogunleye in his allocutus, urged the court to temper justice with mercy and to give “a very minimal sentence”, noting that the defendant was remorseful as “demonstrated by his willingness to change his plea and not to further waste the judicial time in this case.
“He has a wife and several children as well as numerous extended family members under his care to whom he is the breadwinner,” he added.
Responding, Oyedepo noted that the prosecution had no record of his previous conviction, but urged the court to impose a sentence to serve as deterrence to others who may want to engage in similar crime.
He further urged the court to order the forfeiture of four vehicles recovered from him, a black Range Rover Sport, a black BMW, a black Toyota Landcruiser, and a white Toyota Hilux, and a property located at No 1A, Joke Ayo Street, Riverside Estate, Alagbado, Lagos as part of restitution to the victim.
He also urged the court to order the closure of the First Bank account used to perpetrate the fraud, in which he changed his name from Hassan Karim Ayinde to Bolarinwa Oluwasegun Abiodun to perpetrate the fraud.
He further urged the court to take cognisance of the fact that the document used for the fraud “was purportedly signed by the Commander-in-Chief, our current and sitting President of the country, the most revered office in the land”, and so prayed the court to impose sentence “that will deter anybody from joking with that office”.
In sentencing the convict, Justice Taiwo held that: “The defendant went the length of involving a former president of this country, General Obasanjo and forged documents allegedly signed by the current president of this country, President Muhammadu Buhari.
“It is so sad that people like the defendant have given our beloved country bad image.
“It is obvious that the defendant appears to be a very intelligent man, more is the pity that he could not put his ingenuity to better use.
“In the light of the seriousness of this scam, and in order to send a clear message to all scammers, fraudsters and criminals, this court is prepared to protect the interest of Nigerians and the society at large.
“I, therefore, sentence the defendant to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine.”
The court also granted the prayers of the prosecution for the forfeiture of the four vehicles and the property in order to help the victim recover his money.
He was also ordered to pay N20million as restitution to the victim.
His First Bank account was also ordered “closed forthwith”.
The United Kingdom’s Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, arrived in Nigeria yesterday on his first official visit to Africa, underscoring a renewed emphasis on economic collaboration and growth-centered diplomacy between the UK and African nations.
His visit marks the beginning of a five-month consultation aimed at reshaping UK-Africa relations to prioritise African voices and ambitions across the continent.
This was contained in a statement signed and released by the Senior Press and Public Affairs Officer, British Deputy High Commission in Lagos, Ndidiamaka Eze, on Sunday.
In Nigeria, Lammy will advocate for deeper trade and investment ties, supporting what he described as a fresh, respectful approach that builds “long-term growth rather than short-term solutions.”
Lammy stressed Africa’s significant potential, noting that by 2050, it is set to account for a quarter of the world’s population.
His goal is to build relationships where “the UK and our friends and partners in Africa can grow together.”
“Africa has huge growth potential, with the continent on track to make up 25 per cent of the world’s population by 2050.
“Our new approach will deliver respectful partnerships that listen rather than tell, deliver long-term growth rather than short-term solutions, and build a freer, safer, more prosperous continent.
“Growth is the core mission of this government and will underpin our relationships in Nigeria and beyond. This will mean more jobs, more prosperity, and more opportunities for Brits and Africans alike,” the statement read.
The visit came as part of a broader strategy to elevate UK engagement in Africa, with Lammy scheduled to meet with President Bola Tinubu, Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
His agenda includes furthering the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, which was signed earlier this year to expand trade and market access between the two countries.
The partnership aimed to boost economic opportunities, fostering jobs, and prosperity for both British and Nigerian citizens.
As part of his commitment to supporting Nigeria’s economic reforms, Lammy will introduce a technical assistance package designed to support the Nigerian Ministry of Finance.
The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has invited stakeholders to an investigative hearing on the $2bn renewable energy grants and investments in Nigeria.
According to the Committee, the investment has not had a proportional impact on the nation’s energy security challenges.
In July 2024, President Bola Tinubu disclosed at the Africa Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit in Nigeria that the nation had attracted over $2bn of investment in the sector in the past decade.
“Over the past decade, Nigeria has attracted over $2bn in investment in the renewable energy sector, making it a fast-growing part of the economy. Our commitment is to continue on this path and attract more private sector involvement in the renewable energy space, including manufacturing locally produced solar panels and batteries.
“By encouraging local production of equipment, we can reduce implementation costs, thereby lowering the threshold for electrification,” the President was quoted as saying.
Scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 and 6 November 2024, the investigative hearing follows the mandate given to the Committee on 6 June 2024 to investigate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies involved in investments, procurement, and receipt of grants for renewable energy sector development.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Committee Chairman, Victor Ogene, in Abuja, the probe will cover the period from 2015 to 2024.
The lawmaker said the House was shocked that “Despite the government attracting over $2bn in renewable energy investments in the past decade, as reported by the Rural Electrification Agency in 2023, there has been no noticeable improvement in the sector.
“The House of Representatives was alarmed that the dysfunctional electricity generation and supply system persists, contrary to the objectives behind government investments and grants aimed at developing the renewable energy sector. Hence, the resolution to probe these investments to determine the integrity of the procurement and execution processes.”
He noted that the probe is not a witch-hunt but an exercise to discourage shady dealings and promote transparency and objectivity in managing government or public resources.
The House’s resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need to Investigate Investments in the Renewable Energy Sector and Foreign Grants Received from 2015 Till Date,” sponsored by the lawmaker representing Oshodi-Isolo II Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Mr Okey-Joe Onuakalusi.
Leading the debate, the lawmaker said the parliament was aware that poor electricity generation, transmission, and distribution pose a significant threat to the nation’s industrial and technological development goals.
According to the lawmakers, successive governments since 2015 have made substantial investments and attracted multimillion-dollar foreign grants for Nigeria’s renewable energy subsector to create a viable and sustainable alternative energy supply.
They noted that in December 2023, the World Bank approved a $750m facility to boost renewable energy in Nigeria, aiming to provide over 17.5 million Nigerians with improved access to electricity through distributed renewable energy solutions.
They also noted that in 2020, the Federal Government launched a $200m renewable energy project, the ‘Nigeria Electrification Project,’ targeted at providing off-grid energy to over 500,000 people across 105,000 households in rural communities, funded by the African Development Bank.
Agencies invited to the public hearing include, but are not limited to, the Rural Electrification Agency, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Also invited are the Country Representative of the European Union, Union Bank Plc (Compliance Department), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Federal Ministry of Power, Energy Commission of Nigeria, and Federal Ministry of Finance.
Other invited entities include the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, Federal Ministry of Petroleum (Gas Resources), Niger Delta Development Commission, United States Agency for International Development, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Accountant General of the Federation, and Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations, among others.
Rosicrucian Order, English Grand Lodge for West Africa, has urged Rosicrucians all over the world to contribute their quota towards the political and economic development of their countries.
The Order, which gave the task at the AMORC Convention, Port Harcourt 2024, also called on them to remain exemplary in their conducts.
It charged them to radiate love wherever they find themselves as the theme of the convention was “Universal Love.”
Declaring the convention open, the Imperator and President Supreme Grand Lodge (AMORC), Frater Claudio Mazzucco, urged members to ensure a better society for present and future generations.
He also described the convention as historic, and charged them to continue to radiate love to all humanity.
Meanwhile in his message, the Grand Master-designate, Eugenius Idiodi, urged the delegates to reflect on the theme of the convention.
“As we come together under the guiding theme of ‘universal love’ let us pause for a moment to reflect on the profound significance of this gathering and the journey that has brought us to this point”.
Idiodi also described members of the Order as “seeds of various kinds sown into the soil, each with the potentials to bloom into something unique and beautiful”.
“Yet no matter their individual forms, all these seeds share common nurturing light of the sun, the sustaining nourishment of the Earth and the gentle touch of water”, he added.
Grand Master-designate said each member of the Order is like a seed which has the potentials to blossom into its highest level.
In his words, “And just as the seeds in the garden depend on the forces of nature, we too require the nourishing power of universal love to flourish, not as individuals but as a global community bound by the sacred principles of the Rosicrucian tradition”.
Idiodi described the convention as a symbol of collective journey, stressing that members are on a journey towards deeper understanding, compassion and enlightenment.
The Chairman of Local Organising Committee, Edwin I. Obani, said the convention would mark the golden jubilee of the English West Africa Lodge and the installation of the Grand Master-designate, Frater Eugenius Idiodi.
Obani said the event would afford members from the different countries in West Africa to rekindle the love of universal love.
Later at a press conference, members of the Order, including the Imperator and President Supreme Grand Lodge, Claudio Mazzucco, Frater Kenneth Idiodi, Eugenius Idiodi, Lucy Crawford Sandison and Olabimpe Giwa, said love remains the only antidote to solving all societal problems.
They urged members of the society to show love not only to fellow humans but also to mother earth.
The convention marks the Golden Jubilee of the West African Lodge.
By: John Bibor
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