Court charge Beninese industrialist for faking a Nigerian passport 

An Igbosere magistrate court, Lagos yesterday docked a 57-year-old Beninese, Business woman,  Abduo Rachidatuo, over an alleged impersonation and disobedience to a court order.

Rachidatuo is standing trial on a three-count charge of breach of peace, contempt of court and impersonation.

The accused was however granted bail of N500, 000 as she pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge

The Prosecutor, Insp. Steven Molo, had earlier told the court that the accused committed the alleged offences between July 2015 and July 21, at Abule-Egba area of Lagos.

He said that the accused falsely presented herself to be a Nigeria citizen by birth, particularly from Lagos State.

"The accused through an ECOWAS electronic Passport No. 06820812, presented herself to be Abudu Rachidatu, a Nigeria by birth, instead of Abduo Rachidatuo, a Benin national.

"However a Republic of Benin Passport no. B0483183 which was issued to accused on Sept 2, 2015, at Porto Novo, indicates that she is from Benin republic and not Nigeria," Molo said.

The prosecutor also said that the accused disobeyed a Federal High Court of Lagos, order issued by Justice M. N. Yunusa and Justice M. B. Idris respectively.

Molo said that the two court order were issued on Sept. 9, 2015, with order No. FHC/L/CS/715/2015 and June 13, with order No. FHC/L/CS/883/2017, respectively.

The prosecutor told the court that the order had prohibited the accused from ejecting an employee of Rana Prestige Industries, Mr Modest Senon, from the premises of the above company.

He said that the accused disobeyed the court order and ejected the Senon without lawful excuse.

The offences, according to the prosecutor contravened Sections 114, 123 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The accused denied the charge and the Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Oshin granted her bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not less than grade level 14 and the other surety must show evidence of six months tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

Oshin adjourned the case until July 26 for mention. 

However, the accused was seen being conveyed to prison by the Kirikiri female vehicle.