An 82-year-old man, Clement Nnamdi Okonjo, has been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for forgery by a Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State.
The conviction was secured by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice F. A. Olubanjo on Wednesday, March 18, 2026.
Okonjo was arraigned on January 17, 2023, on a four-count charge bordering on forgery.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charges at the commencement of trial, prompting the prosecution to present evidence and witnesses to establish its case.
After reviewing the facts and submissions before the court, Justice Olubanjo found the defendant guilty and subsequently handed down a 12-year custodial sentence.
The conviction underscores the EFCC’s continued enforcement drive against financial crimes and document-related offences, even involving elderly suspects, as the anti-graft agency maintains that age does not exempt individuals from accountability under Nigerian law.
Legal observers say the ruling also highlights the judiciary’s stance on forgery-related offences, which are viewed as serious crimes capable of undermining trust in official processes and transactions.
