By Maryanne Awuya
For forging documents of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to procure a United Kingdom visa, Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi has been sentenced to one year in jail.
Balogun-Okedeyi, was, however, given an option of a ₦500,000 fine.
Persecondnews reports that the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) which prosecuted her, disclosed this on the Commission’s official X account.
The defendant allegedly posed as a NAFDAC employee, using a suite of forged documents—including employment and promotion letters, an ID card, and an introductory letter—to bolster her visa application.
However, investigations confirmed she was never on the agency’s payroll.
Furthermore, a bank statement purportedly issued by Chanelle Microfinance Bank was flagged as a fabrication.
The case, FRN v. Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi, originated from a petition by the British Deputy High Commission, which uncovered a broader visa fraud syndicate allegedly linked to several other applications.
The defendant was initially charged with six counts bordering on forgery and providing false information but later entered a plea bargain, leading to an amended one-count charge to which she pleaded guilty.
Delivering judgment, Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court sentenced her to one year imprisonment, with an option of a ₦500,000 fine.
She was also ordered to perform two days of community service and sign a bond of good behaviour.
The ICPC said the conviction underscores its commitment to tackling document falsification and visa-related fraud involving impersonation of government agencies.
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