Ibadan court convicts woman for forging marriage certificate

A Mapo Grade ‘A’ Customary Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, has sentenced 50-year-old Bolanle Adeyemo to one year in a correctional centre for the forgery and unlawful possession of a marriage certificate. The sentence includes an option of one month of community service.

The criminal case originated from a divorce petition filed in March by her husband, 55-year-old Adeboye Adeyemo, citing persistent disagreements. In an attempt to contest the dissolution of the marriage, Bolanle presented a marriage certificate dated September 12, 1996, to prove the union's validity. Her husband challenged the document's authenticity, prompting a police investigation.

Investigators determined that the Ibadan North Local Government registry had not issued the certificate. Following the investigation, Bolanle pleaded guilty to the forgery charges. While she was convicted on counts of forgery and unlawful possession, the court discharged her on a separate charge of conspiracy.