The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja Lagos and presided over by Justice Mojisola Dada on Wednesday convicted and sentenced one Okunrobo Osarenren to seven years imprisonment for forgery.
The Lagos Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) which is recording yet another conviction in its fight against Economic and financial-related crimes, stated this on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.
The convict was arraigned on October 19, 2017, on a three-count charge bordering on forgery, an offence contrary to Section 363(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2011.
The anti-graft agency stating further added that the convict was charged with one count that reads:
“That you, Okunrobo Osarenren , on or about the 24th day of August, 2009 in Lagos, within the Lagos Judicial Division, knowingly forged the National Population Commission of Nigeria Certificate of Birth No. 0273682 dated Friday 24th August, 2009 in the name of Okunrobo David and purported same to have been issued by the National Population Commission of Nigeria.”
The defendant Okunrobo Osarenren pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the prosecution, thereby leading to his trial.
During the trial, the prosecution counsel, Ufoma Franklin, called four witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence by the court.
At the resumed hearing today, the prosecution counsel urged the court to impose the maximum sentence on the convict on the grounds that the defendant had wasted the time of the court.
However, counsel to the defendant prayed the court to “temper justice with mercy”, adding that my client is a first-time offender and has a wife and children to cater for.”
In her judgment, Justice Dada said the prosecution had clearly proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt with absolute diligence.
Justice Dada, therefore, convicted and sentenced Osarenren to seven years of imprisonment on each count.
The sentences are to run concurrently