By Funmilayo Olagunju

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Falsification is the deliberate act of giving a misrepresentation about something. Age is one of the things that people tend to falsify for various reasons.

People falsify their age to gain respect due to an older person (by adding to their actual age). people falsify their age to appear like a young person with robust accomplishments (by reducing the age).

People falsify their age to qualify for a role or opportunity that is age specific (they may add or subtract to suit the purpose).

People falsify their age to serve longer in public service and bypass retirement as and when due.

Generally, age is personal data which is sometimes required for official purposes. Giving a misleading representation about age is a form of forgery. Falsification of age can be achieved by an oral or written claim, by a birth certificate with false age or via declaration of age/affidavit for a false age. These come with legal consequences.

A person who makes a false document or writing knowing it to be false, and with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in the State or elsewhere, to the prejudice of any person or with intent that any person may, in the belief that it is genuine, be induced to do or refrain from doing any act, whether in the State or elsewhere, is said to forge the document or writing.

Section 465 of the Criminal Code Act.

The general punishment for forgery under the Criminal Code Act if any other punishment is not provided is three years imprisonment. When forgery is in respect of a register of birth, the offender is liable to imprisonment for fourteen years.

Pharaoh asked him, “How old are you?”

And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty…

Genesis 47:8-9