Section 251: Illegal dealings in documents relating to pay, pensions, mobilisation, etc.

(1) A person who-
(a) as a pledge or a security for a debt; or
(b) with a view to obtaining payment from the person entitled therein of a debt due either to himself or to any other person,
receives, detains or has in his possession, an official document issued in connection with the payment to a person of any pay, pension, allowance, gratuity or other payment payable in respect of his or any other person's military service, is guilty of an offence under this section.
(2) A person who has in his possession without lawful authority or excuse (the proof whereof shall lie on him) any payment specified in subsection (1) of this section, or an official document issued in connection with the mobilisation or demobilisation of a service of the Armed Forces or of a member thereof, is guilty of an offence under this section.
(3) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred naira or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
(4) For the purposes of this section, a document shall be deemed to be in the possession of a person if he has it under his control and whether or not he has it for his own use or benefit or for the use or benefit of another.