contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Act and Punishable under
Section 364 of the Penal Code Act, Cap 532, Laws of Northern
Nigeria 1990.
3. That you Obaemeka Ifeanyi Augustine (M) in the month of October,
2013 in Abuja falsely personated as a public servant holding the office of
the “Senior Special Assistance on Projects, Federal Capital
Territory Administration” and in that assumed character you filled and
attempted to submit a Visa Application Form to the High Commission of
India, Abuja; with a view to procuring India Visa for yourself under the
guise of accompanying a patient and you thereby committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under Section 132 of the Penal Code Act,
Cap 532, Laws of Northern Nigeria 1990.
On 28th April, 2015, the Accused was arraigned in court. The three counts
charge was fully read to the Accused in English, he understood same to the
satisfaction of court and he duly pleaded guilty to the three counts charge.
To ensure that the Accused truly intended to plead to the three counts
charge, I called or invited the prosecution to state the facts of the case with
respect to each count.
Learned counsel to the prosecution proceeded to state the material facts
and tendered documents in support or in proof of the ingredients or
elements of the offences the Accused is charged with.
After the presentation by the prosecution, I enquired from the Defendant
whether his plea of guilty is as to the facts stated by the prosecution. The
Accused answered in the affirmative that he fully understood the facts and
ingredients of the offences and stood by his plea of guilty.
Learned counsel to the Accused person similarly affirmed that his client
understood the charge and that he was pleading guilty to the three counts
charge.
I am in no doubt therefore that the Accused fully understood the charge
and his plea of guilty was unequivocal.
In the circumstances, the duty of the court is circumscribed by the clear
provisions of Section 187(1) and (2) of the Criminal Procedure Code. I
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