An Ilorin Magistrate Court has sentenced one Usman Mohammed to one month jail term for parading himself as a captain in Nigerian Army with intent to dupe people in Kwara State.

Mohammed, a 55 years old farmer at Tada, Tshonga in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State was charged with False Personation, Carry Token Used by Public Servant and Extortion contrary to sections 179, 133 and 292 of Penal Code Law.

An identity card bearing Captain Usman Mohammed in Army Ceremonial Dress was found in the suspect’s possession during a stop and search along Tsaragi/Tshonga Road on March 23, 2016.

The convict was arrested and handed over to police by a team of Nigerian Army Force led by one Captain Alayande.
The case was transferred from Divisional Police Station, Tsaragi to Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Police Headquarters, Ilorin for discreet investigation.

According to First Information Report (FIR) dated March 31, 2016, investigation had revealed that the suspect criminally used the said identity card to obtain people of their valuables.

Mohammed confessed he forged the ID card with intention to dupe people, the FIR said. “You (Usman Mohammed) were stopped and during searching, an identity card bearing Captain Usman Mohammed name in Army Ceremonial Dress was
found on you and when you were questioned, you were unable to answer satisfactorily. Hence, you were being suspected, apprehended and handed over to the police for investigation.

“Investigation conducted at the Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Police Headquarters, revealed that you Usman Mohammed criminally used the said identity card to obtain people of their valuables. During the investigation, you equally confessed that you forged the identity card to dupe people,” the FIR said.

The suspect pleaded guilty to the charge and Prosecutor, Abideen Oderinde told the court that since the accused had pleaded guilty to the charges he should be given summary trial.

While delivering the judgment, Magistrate Mercy Adebola convicted Mohammed for all the charges and sentenced him to one month jail term without option of fine.