Police Arraign 25-year-old Bala Jubril Over Alleged Army Impersonation

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE 

A 25-year-old man, Bala Jubril, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Lagos over alleged impersonation and unlawful possession of Nigerian Army identity cards.

Jubril was arraigned before Mr. L.A Owolabi of the Lagos Magisterial District on a three-count charge bordering on alleged conspiracy, impersonation, forgery and unlawful possession of Nigerian Army identity cards. The case is marked as Charge No. K…./2026, Commissioner of Police vs Bala Jubril.

According to the charge sheet filed by the police, the defendant and others now at large, on the 12th day of June, 2026, at about 0930hrs at Ikoyi area of Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District, allegedly conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit, impersonation and unlawful possession of two Nigerian Army Identity Cards.

The police prosecutor in the matter is SP Josephine Ihkayere, who presented the charges before the court. The case was filed by the Command Tactical Squad 1, State Headquarters, Ikeja, with Inspector Akekoromowei Emoemi listed as the Investigating Police Officer and SP Banti Adamu as the Officer in Charge of the squad.

In Count One, the prosecution alleged that the defendant and others now at large conspired to commit felony to wit, impersonation and unlawful possession of two Nigerian Army Identity Cards. The alleged offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

In Count Two, the prosecution alleged that the defendant and others now at large on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District, unlawfully had in their possession two fake Nigerian Army Identity Cards. The alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 79(1)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2015.

In Count Three, the prosecution alleged that the defendant and others now at large on the same date, time and place, allegedly forged Nigerian Army identity cards bearing his name and picture to present himself as a member of the Nigerian Army. The alleged offence is said to be contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 365(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him in court. The prosecutor, SP Josephine Ihkayere, asked the court for a date for hearing to enable the police to prove the allegations against the defendant.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr. L.A Owolabi, granted the defendant bail with two sureties who must show evidence of means of livelihood and evidence of tax payment. The court ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Correctional Center at Kirikiri town pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.

The charge sheet was approved by the District Prosecutor’s Office, Ogba. The complainant in the matter is listed as the Commissioner of Police and the formation is CTSQ-1 Ikeja.

The matter was further adjourned for mention. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law. The allegations contained in the charge sheet are accusations by the police and have not been proven in court.