MICHAEL AKINOLA
Police operatives from Area G Command, Ogba area of the Lagos State, have arrested a man, Adekunle Otoru, who allegedly operated as a Police Character Clearance Certification agent and used it to defraud Innocent people by issuing them fake certificates.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Oturu, was arrested at Fadina Coker Close, Ijaiye area of Lagos, after he allegedly collected the sum of N60,000 from Mrs. Ikotun Olukemi Nireti “f” to process a Police Character Clearance Certificate by dishonestly and unlawfully presenting himself to her as a Police Character Clearance Certificate processing agent, which turned out to be false.
According to Police, he allegedly obtained the money, unlawfully procured a fake Police Character Clearance Certificate with reference number: PSS02230000979073 dated 12/04/2024 knowing same to be fake for Mrs. Ikotun Olukemi Nireti.
However, trouble started after the victim presented the certificate and it was discovered to be fake. When he contacted the suspect, he bolted away having realized that the scam has been discovered.
The matter was reported to the Police, who trailed the suspect, eventually arrested and detained him at the Command for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence under the Criminal Laws of the State.
Part of the charges read:
“That you, Mr. Adekunle O. Otoru ‘M’ of No.33 Fadina Coker Close, Ijaiye Lagos, sometimes in April 2024 at Ijaiye Lagos, in the Lagos State Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of N60,000.00 from Mrs. Ikotun Olukemi Nireti “f” to process a Police Character Certificate certificate by dishonestly and unlawfully presenting yourself to her as a Police Character Clearance Certificate processing agent, knowing same to be false and thereby committed an offence to wit Obtaining by False Pretense contrary and punishable under Section 314 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
” That you, Mr. Adekunle O. Otoru ‘M’ of No. 13 Fadina Coker Close, Ijaiye Lagos on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did dishonestly and unlawfully procure a fake Police Character Clearance Certificate with reference number: PSS02230000979073 dated 12/04/2024 knowing same to be fake for Mrs. Ikotun Olukemi Nireti, which when submitted to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of the United Kingdom was discovered to be fake and unverifiable and thereby committed an offence to wit Forgery contrary to Section 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
That you, Mr. Adekunle O. Otoru ‘M’ of No.13 Fadina Coker Close, ljaiye, on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully conduct yourself in a manner that is likely to cause breach of peace and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 168 (d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
He pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A. Owolabi, granted the defendant bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.