Police Nabs Man Who Forged Oyo Governor's CPS' Letterhead to Secure Employment

A middle-aged man, Fakorede Olabisi Johnson was on Tuesday nabbed by the Police for forging the letterhead of the office of the  Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Oyo State in a bid to secure employment as Coordinating Secretary of the State’s Local Government Service Commission.

The arrested impostor was picked up at the Local Government Service Commission and taken to the office of the Head of Service, while he was trying to secure office accommodation.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Taiwo Adisa, stated that Fakorede had earlier approached the Commission with a letter purportedly signed by the Chief Press Secretary, which he claimed appointed him as the Acting Coordinating Secretary (Local Government Service).

In the forged letter, Fakorede claimed that his appointment was pursuant to section 42(2&3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He had on Monday presented the forged letter to the Service Commission and demanded to be allocated an office and an official car.

The staff of the Commission had, however, told him to report on Tuesday when the office would have been put together.

Checks by the Staff of the Commission at the Office of the Head of Service and the Chief Press Secretary confirmed the letter was forged.

Officials then set a dragnet for the impostor, leading to his arrest on Tuesday.

Following his arrest, Fakorede claimed he committed the crime in order to survive and that he was ignorant of the implications.

When asked how he came about the letter, Fakorede said he forged the letter when he heard the name of the CPS on radio, adding that he had always longed to get a political appointment.

Fakorede said during interrogation:  “I am a native of Oyo town but I live in Lagos. I listened to the news and heard of the name of the Press Secretary on Radio. I like political appointment that is why I designed the appointment in the form of a political appointment.

“I forged the letter by myself, nobody told me to do it. I was pushed to do it by ignorance.”

Fakorede has been handed over to the Police for further investigation and trial.

While addressing journalists in his office, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor, Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, told indigenes of the State to be wary of fraudsters who might want to take advantage of the change in government to commit fraud.

June 12: Makinde Grants Amnesty to 35 Prisoners

The Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde has granted amnesty to 35 convicted prisoners in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day, June 12.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the Governor took the decision pursuant to Section 212 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.  

The statement further confirmed that the Governor has approved a low-key June 12 celebration while enjoining residents and citizens of the state to take time off to reflect on the ways by which they can contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s democracy.

He also urged them all to go about the celebration peacefully.

“Today, we have decided to set free 35 prisoners, who have been found worthy of that amnesty,” the Governor said, adding that the state would, however, only observe a low- key celebration.

According to the Governor, in subsequent years, the state would collaborate with the family of the hero of June 12, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola to celebrate the day in grand style.

The statement further read: “The Government and people of Oyo State today join millions of Nigerians to remember a man who devoted his life to the service of his community and eventually died, seeking to offer more service, Chief MKO Abiola, GCFR.

“We recall 26 years ago, how Nigerians of all walks of life spoke in unison and trooped out to participate in the freest and fairest presidential election Nigeria has ever seen.

“It was a sad day as the election was annulled by the military and the man, Abiola, eventually died in detention. We take solace, however, in the fact that his determination and dogged fight watered the flowers of democracy. It is a good thing that today, the nation is recognising his contributions by setting aside June 12 as a National Day for the celebration of democracy.

“As a people and a government, we can only urge ourselves to jealously guard and guide the legacy of democracy bequeathed to us through the struggles of MKO, while doing all we could to leave a more enduring democratic system for our children and the unborn generation.

“We salute the family of the heroes and heroines of June 12, who have had to suffer the grief and indignity of losing their beloved ones untimely. We salute the courage of the pro-democracy fighters and activists, the leaders of defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) and many silent contributors, who kept the flag of June 12 flying even when it was a dangerous venture to do say.

“We salute the many heroes and heroines, especially the late Kudirat Abiola and Pa Alfred Rewane among others, who paid with their blood in the struggle to give June 12 its deserved recognition. May the souls of those that departed in the course of the June 12 struggles continue to rest in peace.

“We wish all happy Democracy Day.”