3 Arrested For Hawking Forged Covid-19 Certificate At Airport

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Operatives of the Nigeria Police from the State Intelligence Bureau, SIB, have arrested three suspects who allegedly created an outlet at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos and sold forged Covid-19 Certificate to returnees for a fee as clearance to enter Nigeria.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspects, Adelegan Emmanuel, 32, Ibrahim Abubaka, 30 and Shonga Tope, 28, were said to have embarked on the shady deal after they observed the Covid-19 Certificate being issued by the Ministry of Health to those going or returning from abroad for a fee.

They were said to have printed their own, reduced the price and were hawking it at the Airport to members of the public.

According to Police sources, they reduced the official amount for their own certificate and were busy issuing it to members of the public before they were apprehended.

They were exposed after they issued the certificate to one Chisom Emmanalon and collected N33,000 before they were arrested and detained for interrogation.

During investigation, they reportedly confessed that they printed the forged certificate and were selling to the unsuspecting public to make money.

Having been found culpable, they were subsequently charged before the Ogba Magistrates Court for conspiracy and forgery.

When they were arraigned, they pleaded not guilty before the Court.

The prosecutor, Supol Ezekiel Ayorinde, then asked the Court to give a date for hearing to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi, granted them bail in the sum of N200,O00 with two sureties in like sum and ordered them remanded in Correctional Centre at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.

The case was adjourned pending when the Court will hear the matter due to the backlog of cases occasioned by the recent Judiciary strike.