Lagos woman gets one-year jail term for impersonating NAFDAC official in visa fraud scheme

AJustice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a Lagos-based woman, Mrs. Remilekun Temitope Balogun-Okedeyi, to one year in prison for posing as an official of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as part of a fraudulent visa scheme.

The judgment, delivered on April 14, 2026, followed a successful prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The case—which highlights growing concerns over identity fraud in international travel processes—was triggered by a petition from the British Deputy High Commission (BDHC).

Investigations revealed that the convict falsely claimed affiliation with NAFDAC to boost her credibility within a visa racketeering network. In court, the ICPC prosecution team, led by Yvonne William-Mbata, presented evidence showing that the defendant knowingly misrepresented her identity and benefited from the fraudulent operation.

Faced with the amended charge, Balogun-Okedeyi pleaded guilty, which expedited the trial process. A prosecution witness, Mr. Onyema, detailed how the scheme operated and how the false representation played a key role in deceiving authorities. The defence counsel, Mrs. Grace Adenubi of the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, represented the defendant during the proceedings.

In her ruling, Justice Dada sentenced the defendant to one year’s imprisonment, a fine of N500,000, and community service within the court premises. The court also ordered her to sign a bond for good behaviour.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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