A Nigerian woman, Rukayat Mojisola Shonekan, has been given a 10-year ban from entering the United Kingdom following her unwittingly presenting a Police Character Certificate, which she thought was genuine.
The distressed lady reported the matter at the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos State.
This has led to the arrest of four suspects.
The FCID Police Public Relations Officer, Aminat Mayegun, confirmed on Tuesday that the police arrested the four suspects over their alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, forgery of police character certificate and obtaining money under false pretence.
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Mayegun, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said that the suspects were arrested following a complaint by Shonekan bothering on falsification of police character certificate, obtaining money under false pretence, impersonation, and forgery of signatures and official stamps.
According to her, operatives of the FCID Annex attached to X-Squad upon receipt of instructions, took swift action, leading to the arrest of Osinowo Olujimi Obafemi, 35; Sebastine Olamide, 21; Shittu Babatunde, 25; and Bilal Yekeen, 25.
She also stated that the investigating team searched the premises at 267, Igbosere Road, off Obalende area of Lagos Island, Lagos State, uncovering a plethora of fraudulent documents, including fake police character certificates, seven medical reports issued from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital belonging to several individuals, 65 fake international driving permits, 18 international driving licence permit forms with different pictures and belonging to different persons.
Also, there was one pack of both booklets of the traffic foreign vehicle regulation licence among others.
Mayegun added: “Further investigation confirmed suspects’ involvement in a criminal racket involving the issuance of the fake police character certificate that led to the 10-year ban of Mrs Shonekan upon the presentation of the fake Police Character Certificate at the UK Embassy.
“They also admitted to issuing forged documents to several individuals.
“The AIG FCID Annex Lagos AIG Idowu Owohunwa for the umpteenth time emphasised the importance of Nigerians reporting criminal activities, stressing that offenders will face the full wrath of the Law.
“The AIG also urged Nigerians to seek information from the appropriate authorities.”