WOMAN IMPERSONATES FASHOLA'S WIFE;DUPES GOVERNMENT

Mrs. Asogbon Abosede, a 53-year-old primary
school teacher, has been arraigned at the
Ikeja Magistrate’s Court for allegedly
impersonating the wives of Lagos and Osun
states governors and defrauding officials of
the Lagos State Government.

Abosede, a Grade 10 teacher, was said to have
committed the crime between June and July
2013 through text messages in which she
claimed to be Mrs. Abimbola Fashola and Mrs.
Sherifat Aregbesola.

The accused allegedly influenced her
redeployment from a primary school in
Alimosho area of the state to the Lagos State
Basic Education Board by sending text
messages to the Chairman of SUBEB,
presenting herself as Fashola and later as
Aregbesola.

The request was said to have been granted as
she was redeployed soon afterwards.
The police also said among the sins of the
accused was that she sent more text messages
to the Chairman of Agbado/Oke-Odo Local
Council Development Area, and the Education
Secretary of Alimosho, as Fashola, demanding
Ramadan gifts.

The LCDA chairman, in response to the SMS,
was said to have sent N100,000, while
Education Secretary, sent three BlackBerry
phones valued at N105,000.

The charges further stated that Mrs Abosede
also impersonated Aresgbesola’s younger
sister and misinformed another woman that
Aregbesola was involved in a road accident.
The offence is punishable under Section 96(a)
of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Nigeria,
2011.

The bold woman pleaded not guilty to the ten
counts. Her counsel, Mr. Gbolahan Samuel,
urged the court to discountenance the content
of the charges because it was a waterless
paper tiger. The lawyer prayed the court to
grant the accused bail in liberal terms.
The prosecutor, Mr. Babatunde Sunmonu,
however objected to it.

The Magistrate, Mrs. E. Fabanwo, observed
that the charges were grievous, saying each of
them could attract three to 15 years jail term.
Fabanwo admitted the defendant to bail in the
sum of N250,000 with two sureties, who must
deposit N1m each, while one of them must have
landed property in Lagos State with a
government approved Certificate of
Occupancy.

The matter was thus adjourned till September
2, 2013, for trial.