By Martin Iyonguvihi
A 42-year-old farmer, Boniface Ikyernum has been convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment by a Makurdi Chief Magistrate Court for impersonating a lawyer.
The convict, who hails from Luga, Mbatiav in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue state was Wednesday arraigned by the Benue Police Command for false personation and forgery contrary to Section 181 and 365 of Penal Code Law of Benue state 2004.
According to the prosecutor, Inspector Ato Godwin, on the 09/11/2022 at about 1400hrs, the case was received at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi via petition written by one Maimuna M. Ikwulono, Esq., Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi on behalf of NBA Branch, Makurdi dated 08/11/2022 stating that:
“One Mr. Boniface Terkimbi Ikyernum, male, who is a not legal practitioner represented himself as one, impersonated one S.T Akohol, Esq, and J.S Okutepa, SAN of J.S Okutepa SAN & Co. of Ashby Investment House, Makurdi, forged a letter, seal and signature of the said S.T Akohol, Esq and submitted it to one Miss Lucy Terungwa “Female”, his tenant without lawful justification.
When the charges were read before the defendant in court, he pleaded guilty saying “it’s true”, and the prosecutor applied for a summary trial.
Granting the judgement, the Magistrate, Rose Iyorshe Esq. held that in compliance to Section 276(1) and (2) of the State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2019, the defendant is convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment without an option of fine at the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Makurdi. Sentence is to run concurrently.
