ICPC Secures Conviction of Woman for Forging NAFDAC Documents to Obtain UK Visa

ICPC Secures Conviction of Woman for Forging NAFDAC Documents to Obtain UK Visa

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of a woman, Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi, for forging employment documents of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in a bid to obtain a United Kingdom visa.

The conviction followed ICPC investigations into a visa fraud scheme uncovered through a petition by the British Deputy High Commission, which exposed a wider syndicate allegedly involved in the production of fake employment records for visa applications.

According to the Commission in a statement signed on Thursday by its Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, the defendant falsely claimed to be a staff member of NAFDAC and used forged documents including employment letters, promotion letters, an identity card, and an official introduction letter purportedly issued by the agency.

Investigators established that she had never been employed by NAFDAC, rendering all documents presented in her application fraudulent and misleading.

The ICPC further disclosed that the case, marked Charge No. ID/27346C/2025 (FRN v. Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi), formed part of a broader investigation into a visa racketeering network allegedly led by one Olusegun Ojo Adigun.

The syndicate, according to findings, was linked to at least sixteen fraudulent visa applications targeting the United Kingdom.

The Commission also revealed that the defendant submitted a falsified bank statement purportedly issued by Chanelle Microfinance Bank covering January to July 2025. However, checks confirmed she had no account relationship with the bank.

She was initially arraigned on a six-count charge bordering on forgery and provision of false information, in violation of Sections 13 and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

During proceedings before Justice Mojisola Dada of the Ikeja Special Offences Court, the defendant, through her counsel Grace Adenubi (Esq.), entered into a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution. Following the agreement, the charge was amended to a single count, to which she pleaded guilty.

The prosecution team, led by Yvonne William-Mbata alongside Roseline Eze and Oluwayemisi Pereira, tendered documentary evidence through ICPC investigator Onyemauchechukwu Ezike, which was admitted by the court.

Delivering judgment, Justice Dada sentenced Balogun-Okedeyi to one year imprisonment with an option of a N500,000 fine payable to the Federal Government within seven days. The court also ordered her to perform two days of community service and directed that she enter a bond of good behaviour to be recorded in the Lagos State Judiciary database.

The ICPC said the conviction underscores its resolve to clamp down on document forgery and impersonation of government agencies, particularly in cases involving fraudulent attempts to secure foreign travel documents.