By Joy Baba
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured a conviction of a Travel Agent, Matthew Joseph Abasi-Ifreke, who impersonated two senior government officials in a bid to procure travel documents for his clients.
Abasi-Ifreke, who pleaded guilty to a two-count amended charge, impersonated the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science & Technology, Abuja and the Director, Administration & Finance, Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue in a bid to obtain visas from both the Indian High Commission and British High Commission for his clients.
He was charged with impersonating a public officer contrary to section 132 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the FCT CAP 532.
Abasi-Ifreke was arraigned on December 5, 2013 before High Court in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. He pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge earlier preferred against him by ICPC.
He later indicated his desire to change his plea upon an agreement by all parties, which made the Prosecution to amend the earlier 12 counts charge to two counts. Abasi-Ifreke had also been in prison custody for the last 11 months.
Following his guilty plea to the amended charge, Justice Maryann E. Anenih, in a judgment on October 31, 2014 convicted and sentenced Abasi-Ifreke to one year imprisonment on each of the counts, with a fine of N50,000 each.
According to the judge, while the sentences are to run concurrently, the fine shall be cumulative.
