ICPC arraigns woman over alleged forged marriage certificate, visa fraud

ICPC arraigns woman over alleged forged marriage certificate, Visa fraud

By James Ajumi

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned one Ms. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo before the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Kubwa for allegedly forging a marriage certificate and United Arab Emirates (UAE) passport stamps to obtain a United Kingdom (UK) visa.

Ms. Ojo was brought before Justice Akobi on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, on a four-count charge filed by the Commission under Charge No. CR/577/25 — Federal Republic of Nigeria vs. Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo (F).

According to the charge sheet, the offences were allegedly committed in or around 2019 in Abuja. The ICPC prosecution team claimed that the defendant forged a marriage certificate with registration number 024119/2017, purportedly issued by the Ikoyi Marriage Registry in Lagos, and used it to support her visa application.

The Commission further alleged that she forged entry and exit stamps of the UAE on her international passport to strengthen her claims before immigration authorities.

The alleged offences contravene Sections 363 and 366 of the Penal Code and are punishable under Section 364, which deals with forgery and the fraudulent use of forged documents.

One of the charges reads:
“That you, Elle Isaac Blessing Ojo, in 2019 or thereabouts, at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did fraudulently present as genuine a forged marriage certificate purportedly emanating from Ikoyi Marriage Registry, Ikoyi-Lagos, when you had reason to believe it to be a forged document, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 366 and punishable under Section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of the Federation.”

Ms. Ojo pleaded not guilty to all four counts. She was represented by her counsel, C. A. Owo Ekele.

Lead prosecution counsel, Barr. Fatima Abdullahi, told the court that the Commission was ready to proceed to trial and requested a date for hearing. The defence counsel, however, applied for bail on liberal terms.

After listening to arguments from both sides, Justice Akobi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of ₦2 million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a public servant not below Grade Level 15, while the other must be an Abuja resident with a family and own landed property with a valid Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) within the FCT. The surety is required to attach copies of the passport and C of O for verification.

Justice Akobi ordered that Ms. Ojo be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the fulfillment of the bail conditions.

The Commission said it will continue to collaborate with embassies and international partners to curb visa-related fraud and ensure offenders are prosecuted.