A Chartered Accountant, Omafume Ayinuola, has been arraigned before a Lagos Federal High Court, for lying on oath, to obtain an international passport.
Omafume was arraigned on Tuesday, before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, on a three count-charge of false information, concealment of material fact and false disposition on affidavit, by the operatives of Force Criminal Investigation Department, ForceCID, Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
The defendant, Omafume and her mother, Lydia Ehrievuyere, were formerly arraigned during the court long vacation, on August 16, 2023, on charges of conspiracy, forgery, stealing, and fraud of N1.072 billion and $975, 102.58.
She has since be in prison custody, sequel to a remand order issued by the court.
The prosecutor, Morufu Animashaun, while arraigning Omafume, told the court that, the defendant on March 20, 2023, proceeded to Minna, Niger State, and procured, another international passport, in a bid to evade investigation and prosecution of an alleged crime of N1.072billion and $975, 102.58, being investigated by the Interpol Section of the ForceCID.
READ ALSO: First Bank, others charged for alleged contempt
Animashaun further told the court that the defendant, in a bid to procured the new international passport, knowingly concealed and failed to disclose the true material facts at Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, Niger State Minna Command that her passport No. BO0939532, as not lost.
He further told the court that the defendant deposed to an affidavit at High Court Minna, Niger State, stating that her International passport was lost in transit, a fact she knew to be false.
He added that the alleged offences committed by the accountant are contrary to sections 1(1) (d) and 1(1) (f) of Passport Miscellaneous Provision Act 2004 and punishable under section 1(2) of same Passport (Miscellaneous Provision) Act 2004. And section 117 of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of Federation 2004 (as amended) and punishable under Section 118 of same Criminal Code Act Cap C38 Laws of Federation 2004 (as amended).
She pleaded not guilty to the three count charge.
Consequently, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date.
Lawyer to the defendant, Olubusola Ashiru, did not opposed the prosecutor’s request.
Justice Ogundare, thereafter, adjourned the matter to February 22 to 24, 2024.
