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The suspect who was arraigned by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 40-count charge, bagged three years jail term for each of the 40 counts..

He is however to spend only three years in prison as the jail terms is to run concurrently.

According to Justice M. Abimbola of the High Court of Oyo State, Ibadan, who delivered the judgement, the jail sentence was to serve as a deterrent to the convict and others who may be nursing the idea of engaging in fraudulent activities. He said he hoped the three years the convict would be in prison would serve as a reformatory period for him.

The suspect who was earlier arraigned on September 17, 2009 by the anti-graft agency has been in jail since as he was refused bail by the court because of the enormity of the offence..

He was arrested in March 2009 at the Dugbe Post Office, Ibadan while posting over 200 scam letters containing forged United Kingdom documents meant to be delivered to unsuspecting victims.

He also had 213 letters purportedly signed by one Mr. Benson Nwosu of Fidelity Registrar, which Fidelity Bank Plc has since confirmed to be fake as the bank stated that it has no subsidiary company with the name Fidelity Registrar. “The 213 letters purportedly signed by Mr. Benson Nwosu of Fidelity Registrar, were forged as we do not have any employee by such name..

The blank letter headed paper was also forged,. the logo and lettering imitated our regular letter heads while they listed our Board of Directors underneath it, but we disown the document as it was forged and did not originate from us”, Fidelity Bank Plc had stated.

Ilori in his advance fee fraud venture also had 212 letters purportedly signed by one Neil Freeman, Centre Manager, Inland Revenue Centre for Non-Residents, Fitzroy House, Nottingham , United Kingdom .

However EFCC through its collaboration with Serious Organised Crime Agency, SOCA , UK , discovered that though the address is correct, the content was false. “Whilst the address is correct, the Inland Revenue was replaced by HMRC several years ago and therefore the forms are false as they are dated March 2009.

The return envelope is addressed to a mail box with no connection to HMRC”, a letter from SOCA had stated. All the disowned documents were forged by Ilori with a view to extract information and dupe unsuspecting members of the public.

All of them were however used as evidence and exhibits against the accused person before Justice Abimbola who condemned the attitude of some Nigerians who are desperate to make money at all cost and by any means possible, thereby bastardising the image of Nigeria . He said the misadventure of Ilori and other scammers was capable of scaring away foreign investors and businessmen from the country.

Count one of the charges reads: Forgery contrary to section 467 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria , 2000. Olusoji Abiodun Ilori on or about the 25 day of March 2009 at Dugbe Post Office, Ibadan within the Ibadan judicial division with intent to defraud, forged a letter dated 18th March 2009 purportedly written by Neil Freeman, Centre manager, Inland Revenue Centre for Non-Residents, Fitzroy House, P. O. Box 46 Nottingham NG21BD to Mr. Samuel H. Mokwunyer and Mrs Bridget A. Cinwuzor of Suite 3A, Princess Court, 27 Ahmed Onibudo, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. Count two of the charges reads: Forgery contrary to section 467 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria , 2000.

Olusoji Abiodun Ilori on or about the 25 day of March 2009 at Dugbe Post Office, Ibadan within the Ibadan judicial division with intent to defraud, forged a letter dated 18th March 2009 purportedly written by Neil Freeman, Centre manager, Inland Revenue Centre for Non-Residents, Fitzroy House, P. O. Box 46 Nottingham NG21BD to Professor A. G. Falade, P. O. Box 29840 Secretariat Post Office, Ibadan, Nigeria.

The convict has since Monday October 11 when the judgement was delivered, been taken back to Agodi prisons Ibadan

…says he is a performing governor

IMMEDIATE past Governor of Lagos State, Sen. Bola Tinubu, has joined other

prominent Lagos indigenes to lent his support for the continuation of his predecessor, Governor Babatunde Fashola, in office, saying he has performed creditably well, contrary to the widespread rumours making the round that the former governor does not want Governor Fashola to run for a second term.

This came just as Governor Fashola stressed the need for the preservation of traditional institution, culture and values in the interest of the future generations.

Tinubu made the remarks yesterday at the official handing over of Oba’s palace, “Iga Idunganran”, Lagos Island as part of events to commemorate the 7th coronation anniversary of Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I.

Among the dignitaries at the event were former military administrator of Lagos State, Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson; the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona; Oba Olateru Olagbegi, Olowo of Owo; Oba Ojora of Lagos; Alara of Ilara; former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Bola Ajibola; Alhaji Femi Okunnu; Senator Ganiyu Solomon and representative of Alake of Egba land, Alhaji Lateef Adegbite.

Tinubu made the declaration which elicited applause from the dignitaries and other guests at the occasion.

Commending Fashola for achieving the dream of building a befitting and modern palace for the Oba of Lagos, Tinubu described the incumbent governor as an achiever and a performing governor that deserved everyone’s support and cooperation in taking Lagos to higher heights.

The immediate past governor noted that the realisation of the new Oba’s palace was an evidence of Fashola’s dedication to duties and beliefe in shared vision of the past governors who had in one way or the other contributed to the upliftment of the palace into a modern building,

He said when the current democracy started in 1999, Lagos was in total bankruptcy but due to endurance of all, “Lagos has become what it is today and it will only get better with the type of Fashola in administartion.”

Okunnu, Oba Adetona, Olagbegi all spoke glowingly of Fashola’s administration and for making the building a reality in their own life time.

Fashola acknowledges Tinubu’s efforts

The governor in his brief comments, acknowledged the efforts and support of his predecessor Tinubu, who he said initiated the move to build the new palace.

“What we are here to commemorate is the dream that has been for long as successive military administrators and governors have contributed in no small means to the palace renewal with Tinubu administration being most impactful.Also, it was not just a government project but a project pursued with passion by Oba Akiolu.”

While stressing that everyone has a role to play in preserving their heritage, Fashola disclosed plans by his administration to bring in experts to work out ways of fully preserving the history of Lagos State.

“We will continue to ensure the renewal of Oba’s and chiefs’ palaces in the state. Already, some palaces are at different stages of completion. I feel humbled and delighted to have contributed in one way or the other to the preservation of our traditional institution,” Fashola said.