The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before Justice Akobi of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Kubwa, for allegedly falsifying a marriage certificate and forging United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport stamps in a bid to fraudulently secure a United Kingdom (UK) visa.
The arraignment, which took place on Tuesday, followed a four-count charge filed by the Commission under Charge No. CR/577/25: Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences occurred around 2019 within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The ICPC prosecution team accused the defendant of forging a marriage certificate with registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by a Nigerian marriage registry, and presenting it as genuine to support her UK visa application.
The Commission further alleged that Ms. Ojo falsified entry and exit stamps of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on her international passport, submitting them as authentic to bolster her visa documentation.
These offences, according to the charge, contravene Sections 363 and 366 and are punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation, which prescribe penalties for forgery and fraudulent use of forged documents.
Defendant pleads not guilty
One of the counts reads: “That you, Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo, in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when you had reason to believe it to be a forged document, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”
Upon the reading of the charges, the defendant entered a plea of not guilty to all four counts. She was represented in court by her counsel, C.A. Owo Ekele.
Lead prosecution counsel, Barrister Fatima Abdullahi of the ICPC, informed the court that the Commission was prepared to commence trial and asked for a hearing date, while the defence counsel moved for bail on liberal conditions.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Akobi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦2 million, with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, and the other a resident of Abuja who owns a landed property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).
The second surety is also required to attach copies of their international passport and Certificate of Occupancy to the bail documents for verification.
Justice Akobi ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre until the bail conditions are satisfied.
In a statement issued Wednesday, ICPC spokesperson and Director of Public Enlightenment and Education, Demola Bakare, reaffirmed the Commission’s resolve to continue working with foreign embassies and international partners to clamp down on visa fraud and bring offenders to justice.
