Desperate Wife Sentenced After Fabricated Marriage Certificate Backfires In Ibadan Court

(Court. Photo by Daily Nigerian)

A customary court in Ibadan has sentenced Bolanle Adeyemo, aged 50, to one year imprisonment for unlawfully possessing and forging a marriage certificate presented as evidence in court proceedings.

The court president delivered the judgment based on the defendant’s guilty plea and evidence submitted by prosecutors.

The court exercised discretion in sentencing Adeyemo, who pleaded guilty to the charges.

She received one-year sentences on each of counts two and three unlawful possession and forgery of the marriage certificate with an alternative option of one month community service.

The convict was discharged of the first count involving conspiracy.

The circumstances leading to the conviction stemmed from divorce proceedings initiated in March by Adeyemo’s husband, aged 55, citing marital disagreements.

In an attempt to preserve the marriage, the defendant claimed to possess a valid marriage certificate and submitted a forged document to the court as evidence.

The husband contested the authenticity of the exhibit.

The court subsequently directed police to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the facts.

During proceedings, prosecutors established that the defendant tendered the forged certificate at the Mapo location in Ibadan.

The husband disputed its validity, asserting no marriage certificate had been issued to them on the stated date.

Investigation revealed that the Ibadan North Local Government registry, referenced on the certificate, denied ever issuing any such document to the defendant, confirming the certificate was fabricated.

The offences violated provisions of the criminal code applicable in Oyo State.