FORGERY

A 31-year-old man, Kingsley Akpaban, on Tuesday appeared before an Apapa Chief Magistrates’ Court, for conspiracy and forgery, News Agency of Nigeria reports .The prosecutor, ASP Soji Ojaokomo, told the court that Akpaban conspired with one other, now at large, to commit the offense in 2003 at Naval Air Station, Ojo, Lagos.Ojaokomo said the accused, who resided at the Ojo area of Lagos, forged a Senior School Certificate with number NGSP 0150877 for candidate number 12746007.He said the accused used the forged certificate, purported to have been issued by the West African Examination Council to gain employment with the Nigeria Navy.“The forged document, which was said to have been issued by WAEC in 1998, was presented by the accused to secure employment with the Navy,” Ojaokomo said.

According to him, an official of the Nigerian Navy, who did a scrutiny, eventually found out that the accused forged the certificate. .....culled from PUNCH METRO

The rate at which people forge documents in this present time is so alarming; it is common between young ladies and guys of this generation. I have heard cases of ladies lying to their boyfriends and vice-versa that they graduated from one school or the other whereas they did not, i honestly don’t know when living in school environment amounts to being a graduate of the institution.

It is important we take an extra effort to find out our partner’s qualification especially the ones with questionable character.

Forgery is defined under section 465 of the Nigerian Criminal Code a person who makes a false document or writing knowing it to be false, and with intent that it may in any state or elsewhere, to the prejudice of any person may in the belief that it is genuine.

Fogery is felony and if Kingsley AKpan in this case is found guilty then he shall be liable for three years imprisonment.

So if its is an offense punishable with imprisonment then why do we engage in such act, forgery does not start and stop with school certificate only, where anyone forged any  document and another person rely on it such person will be guilty of forgery.

Common documents people forged, Power of Attorney, Deed transferring title in land, results, bank notes to mention a few.

Thank you .

Oyenike Alliyu-Adebiyi LLB(hons)BL