The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has secured the conviction of Ijamulisi Ayodele James for forging documents used in fraudulent visa applications to the United Kingdom.
The ICPC’s Lagos State Office brought the charges following intelligence from the British High Commission, which revealed that James was behind the production of fake documents, including invitation and introduction letters falsely bearing the names of Clarivate Analytics and Thomson Reuters, along with a fake bank statement and payslip.
Investigations confirmed that James prepared the forged documents for Dennis Adetoye Adeniran and Awoke Nimota Omobolaji, both of whom were previously convicted in related cases in 2019 and 2025.
James was arraigned on August 7, 2025, before Justice R. A. Oshodi of the Ikeja Special Offences Court on a four-count amended charge of forgery under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
He pleaded guilty to all charges under a plea bargain agreement and was convicted and sentenced to a fine of one million naira per count or seven days’ imprisonment on each count, with the sentences to run concurrently. This means James must pay a total fine of four million naira or serve seven days at the Kirikiri Maximum Correctional Facility.
The court also ordered that James’ biometric data be recorded in the Lagos State Judiciary Offenders’ Database and that he file an affidavit of good behaviour at the High Court Registry.
The ICPC stated it reserves the right to reopen investigations if the convict violates any terms of the agreement or if new evidence emerges, including undeclared assets or corruption-related offences.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to fighting document fraud and safeguarding the credibility of both Nigerian and international travel systems.
