Pilot Jailed 140 Years For Forging Foreign Cheques

Justice Mohammed Idris of a Federal High Cour, Lagos yesterday sentenced a pilot, Jones Patrick Biyere, to a cumulative jail term of 140 years for forging foreign cheques.

Delivering judgement in the 12-year-old case, Idris pronounced Biyere guilty of all the 13-count charge of forgery preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge expressed his displeasure at the length of time it took for the case to be decided owing to the “various delay tactics employed by the defendant to ensure that the judgement day did not come”.

In sentencing the convict, Idris said: “The prosecution has been able to proof its case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. The second prosecution witness confirmed to the court that the exhibit belongs to the defendant. The defendant admitted same and said it was about to be sent out of the country. He failed to give reasons why he wanted to send these exhibits abroad, knowing that they were fake.