A 57-year-old Beninese, Abduo Rachidatuo, was on Thursday charged before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over alleged impersonation and disobedience to a court order.
Rachidatuo, who is a businesswoman, is standing trial on a three-count charge of breach of peace, contempt of court and impersonation.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the three-count and was granted N500, 000 bail.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Steven Molo, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offences between July 20 and 21 of 2015, at Abule-Egba area of Lagos.
He said that the accused falsely presented herself to be a Nigeria citizen by birth, particularly from Lagos State.
“The accused through an ECOWAS electronic Passport No. 06820812, presented herself to be Abudu Rachidatu, a Nigeria by birth, instead of Abduo Rachidatuo, a Benin national.
“However a Republic of Benin Passport no. B0483183 which was issued to accused on Sept 2, 2015, at Porto Novo, indicates that she is from Benin republic and not Nigeria,” Molo said.
The prosecutor also said that the accused disobeyed two orders of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which were issued by Justice M. N. Yunusa and Justice M. B. Idris respectively.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, contravened Sections 114, 123 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
The accused denied the charge and the Magistrate, Mrs O. O. Oshin, granted her bail in the sum of N500, 000, with two sureties in like sum.
She said that one of the sureties must be a civil servant not less than grade level 14 and the other surety must show evidence of six months tax payment to the Lagos State Government.
Mrs Oshin adjourned the case until July 26 for mention. The accused was conveyed to prison by the Kirikiri female vehicle.
