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Tag: forgery

  • Alleged forgery, impersonation: Absence of two lawyers stall arraignment

    Alleged forgery, impersonation: Absence of two lawyers stall arraignment

    The absence of two Abuja-based lawyers, Victor Giwa and Ibitade Bukola, in a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, on Monday stalled their arraignment over allegations bordering on forgery and impersonation.

    In the charge marked CR/150/25 filed by the Inspector-General of Police, the lawyers are accused of conspiring to forge a legal document purportedly issued by the chambers of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Awa U. Kalu, with the intent to mislead the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

    According to the three-count charge, the lawyers committed the offence on  June 28, 2024.

    The prosecution claimed that Giwa and Bukola forged and signed a letter on the official letterhead of Awa U. Kalu (SAN), requesting the AGF to suspend a scheduled arraignment.

    The contentious letter, titled “Urgent and Solemn Appeal to Suspend the Arraignment of Our Colleague Victor Giwa on Charge Number: CR/222/2023”, was allegedly addressed to the AGF.

    It was purported to have originated from the SAN’s chambers and sought intervention to halt the arraignment scheduled before  Justice Samira Bature of the High Court in Maitama, Abuja, on July 2, 2024.

    In the letter, the supposed authors argued that the charges against Giwa should be withdrawn in the interest of “natural justice, equity, and fair play.

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    Giwa, alongside property developer Cecil Osakwe and others, were to be arraigned on a nine-count charge bordering on alleged illegal eviction, criminal intimidation, threat to life, and property damage amounting to N300 million.

    The charge against Giwa and Bukola include conspiracy to commit forgery and impersonation (punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, 2004), dishonest execution of a fraudulent document (Section 364), and false personation of a legal practitioner (Section 179).

    When the matter came up on Monday for arraignment, before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the FCT high court Apo, the two suspects were absent.

    Mr J.K. Kolawole, appeared for the Inspector-General of Police while U.J. Udo represented the defendants.

    Udo informed the court that  Giwa, lost two of his sisters and had travelled to his village to make arrangements for their funeral.

    He, therefore, prayed the court for an adjournment which Udo prayed to be given after the judges’ annual vacation.

    Justice Onwuegbuzie warned that he would not entertain further excuses at the next sitting.

    (NAN) 

  • ‘Provide answers to alleged forgery’

    ‘Provide answers to alleged forgery’

    The Wale Akinterinwa Campaign Organisation has asked Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to provide answers to the alleged certificate forgery case on his neck.

    It urged leaders of All Progressives Congress to call Aiyedatiwa to order.

    Spokesman, Segun Ajiboye, in a statement in Akure, said its call was based on destruction of Akinterinwa’s campaign billboards in Ore, Odigbo local government.

    Ajiboye said these actions were dragging the name of APC in the mud while other parties stood and mocked the follies going on in Ondo APC.

    He said it was regrettable the attack on Akinterinwa’s billboards continued despite calls on the police and DSS to ensure safety of supporters of aspirants and their property.

    “We are calling on the commissioner of Police and director of State Security Service in Ondo to be proactive and forestall further attacks.

    Read Also: Gov Aiyedatiwa gives lawyer 7-day ultimatum to retract certificate forgery allegations

    “However, we want to advise Aiyedatiwa  not to bring down other aspirants but provide answers to the alleged certificate forgery trailing him.”

    Spokesman for Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers (LACO-FSIC), Kayode Fasua, urged Akinterinwa to provide evidence the thugs were sponsored by Aiyedatiwa.

    “There are at least six aspirants from southern senatorial district besides Wale Akinterinwa. How come Akinterinwa’s lackeys, either as directed or deliberately, see Governor Aiyedatiwa as a muted punching bag? For the umpteenth time in their clueless attempts to disparage the irresistible popularity of the governor, they have been cooking up steaming-hot allegations that they are unable to substantiate.

    “The fact of the matter remains that we require evidence to prove that their fathomed thugs who are better conjectured as goblins or gnomes, are from Aiyedatiwa. They are as unserious as their allegation. Any thug spotted destroying their billboard should be reported to the police, rather than distract a hardworking governor.”

  • Alleged NYSC certificate forgery: Bayelsa senator gets N50m bail

    Alleged NYSC certificate forgery: Bayelsa senator gets N50m bail

    A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Apo on Thursday granted bail bail to the Senator representing Bayelsa Central, Benson Konbowei at N50 million.

    Konbowei was arraigned on March 26 on a three-count charge in which he was among others, accused of allegedly forging the National Youth Service Corps certificate.

    He was allowed to go home pending the ruling on his bail application.

    Delivering the ruling yesterday, Justice Christopher Oba said he was mindful of granting bail to Konbowei and proceeded to admit him to bail at N50 million.

    Justice Oba said: “The law is settled that bail is at the discretion of the court. Taking a look at the matter, it is not a capital offence.

    “Bail is granted to the defendant at N50 million with  two sureties in like sum.”

    The judge said the sureties must have landed property within the court’s jurisdiction with authentic Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O).

    He rejected an oral application by the defendant’s lawyer, Gordy Uche (SAN), that he be allowed to write an undertaking to produce the senator in court till he is able to perfect the bail.

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    Justice Oba ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison until he is able to meet the bail conditions.

    The prosecution had earlier called a witness, a former senator, Moses Cleopas, who said he wrote a letter to the defendant’s primary school and discovered some inconsistencies in his certificate.

    Led in evidence by prosecuting lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba sought to tender the letter and the response as exhibits, but Uche objected.

    Uche argued that the documents were not relevant to the charges preferred against the defendant.

    He noted: “Count one deals with fraudulent forgery of the exemption certificate. There was nowhere his first school leaving certificate was mentioned. Sections 4, 5 7, and 9 of the Evidence Act have settled this.

    “Also, these documents were not signed and not dated. An unsigned document is worthless in law. It doesn’t pass the test of admissibility. It also has no name of the officer who signed it.”

    “It contains no evidence that any money was paid to get the certified copies of the documents.”

    Responding, Egwuaba said the documents were responses to a letter the witness wrote.

    He added: “They are original copies of a letter addressed to Moses, a private individual. A letter issued from a public office to an individual cannot be certified. A photocopy can be tendered if the foundation is laid for it.”

  • Three forgery suspects declared wanted

    Three forgery suspects declared wanted

    As part of the ongoing probe of the looting of $6, 230,000 from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Special Investigator, Jim Obazee, has asked the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to place three suspects on Red Notice.

    The suspects – Adamu Abubakar, Imam Abubakar and Odoh Eric Ocheme – have been placed under watch-list for arrest anywhere in the world.

    The Federal Government had on January 18 charged them to court for offences relating to money laundering, fraud, forgery and conspiracy, among others.

    The affected persons were alleged to have forged the signature of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari to steal $6, 230,000 from the CBN.

    The notice to the INTERPOL followed an order of Justice I.E. Ekwo, upon a motion ex-parte of January 18th, 2024, for the warrants of arrest of the suspects.

    The Federal Government has also filed a six-count extradition charge against the three suspects.

    The suspects were alleged to be on the run.

    Obazee made the request in a February 12th, 2024 letter to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in the National Central Bureau of the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) in Abuja.

    The letter was in respect of a “request to watch-list and placing on INTERPOL Red Notice on three defendants involved in a case of conspiracy and fraud.”

    Signed by the Head of Operations, Office of the Special Investigator, DCP Eloho Okpoziakpo, the letter reads:

    “Reference is made to the above subject. The Special Investigator, appointed by the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to investigate the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Related Entities and other Key Government Business Entities (KGBEs) kindly requests you to place the above-named individuals on INTERPOL RED NOTICE.

    “In the course of the Special Investigator’s assignment, Mr. Odoh Eric Ocheme, (a staff member of the CBN) now at large, and the other two accomplices, also now at large, were discovered to have conspired and forged documents in the name of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, with which they stole about US$6,230,000 (Six Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand Dollars) in cash, from the coffers of the CBN.

    “Consequent upon the above, a charge was filed and warrants of arrest have been issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Abuja Division presided over by Hon. Justice I.E. Ekwo in Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/19/2024 B/w: Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Adamu Abubakar & 2 Ors for the arrest and production of the defendants named above for their arraignment.

    “The data page of Odoh Eric Ocheme’s Nigerian International Passport No. B50082800, duly certified true copies of the warrants and the Order of the Court to that effect are hereby attached.

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    “The Special Investigator, therefore, prays you to use your good office to request that the defendants be placed on INTERPOL RED NOTICE, with a view to apprehending and repatriating them from any of the INTERPOL member states to which they may have flown.

    “While counting on your timely cooperation in this regard, kindly accept the esteemed regards of the Special Investigator, please.”

    Justice Ekwo had granted an ex-parte order for the issuance of the warrants for the arrest of the three defendants

    The Certified True Copy of the order, which was made available by the Registrar of the court, Mrs. Chioma Chijioke, reads: “Upon the Motion ex-parte dated and filed 18th January 2024 praying for the following Orders:

    “An Order of Court issuing Warrants for the Arrest of the defendants/respondents.

    “And any further or Order(s) as the Honourable Court may deem fit to make in

    the circumstances.”

    The Federal Government filed an extradition charge against the three defendants on January 18 before the same Federal High Court in Abuja Division.

    In the case, the Federal Government, through its Prosecuting Counsel, Chief Superintendent of Police Celestine U. Odo, accused the three of conspiring to commit forgery.

    It also lined up nine witnesses and 14 exhibits against the defendants

    The government said the alleged offence was contrary to paragraph 3(6) and punishable under Section 192)[c] of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.

    For using forged documents to take $6,230,000 from the CBN, the government said the suspects would face trial for an offence punishable under Section 1(2)[c] of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.

    The suspects are wanted for trial for obtaining property by false pretence, contrary to Section 8 and punishable under Section 1(3) & Section 10 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act, Cap. A6 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2010.

  • Court sacks Adamawa House of Reps member-elect over forgery

    A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday voided the victory recorded by Abdulrauf Modibbo in the last National Assembly election held in Adamawa State.

    Modibbo had contested and won election for the House of Representatives seat for the Yola South/Yola North/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State as member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    But, before the election, Mustapha Usman, who came second behind Modibbo in the APC primaries held on October 7, 2018 in Yola sued, alleging that Modibbo falsified his age and was not eligible to contest the primaries.

    In a judgment yesterday, Justice Inyang Ekwo upheld Usman’s contention and held that Modibbo was unqualified to contest the party’s primaries.

    Justice Ekwo, who dismissed the objections by Modibbo and the APC, noted that  Modibbo failed to file his defence after seeing the plaintifff’s evidence before the court.

    The judge held that, by the evidence led by the plaintiff, Usman discharged the burden of proof through his oral testimony and other documentary evidence tendered before the court.

    Justice Ekwo stated that the plaintiff  successfully proved beyond reasonable doubt that the 1st defendant (Modibbo) falsified his age many times in order to contest the election.

    The judge said the plaintiff proved that Modibbo submitted the forged age certificates for the purpose of contesting party primaries.

    Justice Ekwo found that Modibbo was a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member when he contested the primary election.

    The judge held that, by his conduct,  Modibbo  breached Section 4 of the NYSC Act 2004.

    Justice Ekwo said: “A person who is a lawbreaker cannot be a lawmaker. This illegality is one that cannot be wished away.

    “Going by the depositions of the 1st defendant (Modibbo), contained in the various affidavits and documents deposed to or signed by the 1st defendant, some of which he submitted to the 3rd  defendant (the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC), as contained in FORMS CF001, CF002 and the affidavit thereto, the 1st defendant’s personal information as to his actual age and primary school certificate therein is false and forged.

    “Available documents before the court show that the 1st defendant presented various dates of birth as follows: 29 /9/1985; 29/9/1986 and 29/9/1989.”

    The judge agreed with the plaintiff that the primary school certificate  submitted by Modibbo, dated 11/3/2005, which he  submitted to INEC, was not signed by the Head Master of the school.

    “A documentary evidence that is unsigned amounts to nothing. It is only the 1st defendant that can defend the allegations of forgery and false allegations against him.

    “ The evidence of DW1 (first defence witness) lacks credibility when he said he did not know the 1st defendant in person.

    “The absence of any evidence on the part of the 1st defendant who did not enter the witness box to defend himself means that he has admitted the allegations against him,” the judge said.

    Justice Ekwo proceeded to declare Usman the “lawfully winner of the October 7, 2018 APC primaries and therefore the candidate of the party for Yola North/Yola South/ Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State.

    “The 1st defendant, Abdulrauf Abdulkadir Modibbo, is not qualified to have been nominated as the 2nd defendant’s All Progressives Congress candidate for the Yola South/Yola North/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State in the 2019 general elections.

    “In view of the disqualification of the 1st defendant Abdulrauf Abdulkadir Modibbo, the plaintiff Mustapha Usman,who polled the 2nd highest votes in the primary election of the 2nd defendant, All Progressives Congress (party) for the Yola South/Yola North/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State which held on the 7th day of October 2018 is the lawful winner of the primary election and therefore the candidate of the APC for the Yola South/Yola North/Girei Federal Constituency of Adamawa State for the 2019 general elections.”

    Justice Ekwo ordered the 2nd and 3rd defendants (APC and INEC) to immediately replace Modibbo’s name, with that of Usman, as the lawful candidate of the APC for the Yola South/Yola North/Girei Federal constituency of Adamawa State for the 2019 general elections.

  • VC warns students against cultism, forgery, others

    The Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, has warned students against cultism, forgery, examination malpractices and other vices throughout their stay.

    He said cultism and deviant behaviours remained an anathema and would not be tolerated.

    Speaking at the weekend during the matriculation of over 9,000 regular and Continuous Education Programme (CEP) students, Ahaneku warned that misconducts attracted expulsion.

    He listed payment of school fees and attendance of 75 per cent lectures in all courses as prerequisites for successful graduation of students.

    Ahaneku said: “You must take your studies seriously and avoid associations capable of jeopardising your future.

    “The university has provided you with congenial environment and welfare facilities for your development in character and learning.

    “These facilities include a work-aid scheme to assist indigent students who attain a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 2.50; a Group Personal Insurance and well-equipped hostels.”

    The vice chancellor said the institution enjoyed full accreditations in all the 107 programmes across the 14 faculties.

    “The institution has linkages with universities across the world to facilitate academic programmes development, teaching/research and staff/student exchange,” he added.

  • Brothers arraigned for ‘forgery, land grabbing’

    Two brothers, who allegedly forged land documents and procured hoodlums to grab land at Oko-Ado community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos, were yesterday brought before an Igbosere Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    Alhaji Abdulfatai Abereoje, 51, and his younger brother, Jamiu Abereoje, 45, were arraigned on a five-count charge of conspiracy, felony, forgery, unlawful invasion and conduct likely to cause breach of the public peace.

    The Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department (FCIID), Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, alleged that the defendants and others at large conspired and forged registered survey documents of Oko-Ado community.

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    The police told Chief Magistrate A. Y. Aro-Lambo that the forgery was part of a plan to forcibly and unlawfully take over a large expanse of land belonging to the Iwajoba Chieftaincy Family.

    Prosecuting counsel Morufu Animashaun alleged that the defendants stationed armed hoodlums on the land, who prevented the  owners, Hassan Ogwu and Smart Clement, from taking possession of the land.

    He said the defendants’ arrest and arraignment followed the FCIID’s investigation of a petition against them from the head of Iwajoba Chieftaincy Family, sometime in 2017.

    The offences, the prosecutor said, contravened sections 411, 52 and 168(1)(d) and were punishable under Section 168(2) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. It also infringed on sections 2(3), 4(1)(b), 4 (a)(b)(1) of the Properties Protection Laws of Lagos State, 2016.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty.

    Animashaun prayed the court to remand them in prison custody pending the conclusion of the matter.

    But the defendants’ counsel, Owoeye Oluwatobi, opposed him on the grounds that the allegations against them were bailable.

    In a bench ruling, Chief Magistrate Aro-Lambo granted each defendant N5 million bail with two sureties each.

    The case continues on November 16.

     

  • Forgery: Court dismisses Ikuforiji’s ‘no-case-submission’

    Justice AbdulAziz Anka of a Federal High Court in Lagos Friday ordered Chief Olajide Ikuforuji, the Balogun of Epe Kingdom, to prepare his defence against a forgery charge levelled against him by the  Police.

    Justice Anka made the order after dismissing Ikuforji’s no-case-submission, filed by his counsel, Olajide Sanni.

    Read Also:Certificate forgery: Court dismisses case against Adeleke

    Ikuforij was arraigned by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) on August 17, 2016, on a two-count charge of forgery.

    He pleaded not guilty and was granted N10 million bail with one surety in the same sum.
    In the course of the trial, he filed the no-case-submission and contested the court’s jurisdiction to hear the charge.

    But ruling on the defendant’s application, Justice Anka held: “The law conferred jurisdiction on the Federal High Court to try any miscellaneous offences.

    “Consequently, I hold that this court has jurisdiction to entertain the charge against the defendant, and I so hold.

    “With all evidence, issues and facts presented by the prosecution, which the defendant has to explain, the defendant is hereby given the opportunity to prepare his defence”.

    He adjourned till October 18.

    In the charge, the police accused the defendant of forging minutes of an emergency meeting of the Eko Epe Forum held on October 20, 2012, following a chieftaincy tussle.

    It said the defendant did so “with intent to defraud,” adding that he “fraudulently uttered (presented) a forged and false” document with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine.

    The police also alleged that Ikuforiji’s act was to prejudice the Oba of Epe Kingdom, S.O. Adewale, as well as Alhaji Adio Oduola and Alhaji Tunde Bello.

    The alleged offence contravened Section 1 (2) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

  • Woman docked over alleged trespass, forgery

    A 55-year-old business woman, Taira Ibitoye, was on Tuesday arraigned in a Kuje Magistrates’ Court,  Abuja, on charges bordering on trespass and forging landed property documents, belonging to one Mr Mustapha Aliu.

    Ibitoye, who resides at Funtaj Road area of Kuje, was arraigned on a three-count charge of joint act, criminal trespass and forgery, offences she denied committing.

    Read Also:Scavengers arraigned for alleged trespass, theft

    The prosecutor, Doris Okoroba, said that the case was reported by Aliu, a civil servant, at the Kuje Police Station on Sept. 4.

    Okoroba said that on the same day the case was reported, the accused and one Abubakar Sadiq, now at large, mobilised people to work on a plot of land at AA2 Layout, belonging to Aliu.

    She said that during investigation, it was discovered that the accused and Sadiq,  forged documents of the property and were about to sell it to someone when they were caught.

    The prosecutor said the offences contravened Sections 96, 265 and 248 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Taribo Jim, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N200, 000 with one surety in like sum.

    Jim said that the surety must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and adjourned the case until Oct. 9, for mention.

  • Police to arraign 22-year -old for forgery

    The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it would arraign a 22-year-old man identified as Ukpabi Kenneth in court for claiming to be a Colonel in the Nigerian Army.

    Kenneth was arrested by the men of the Nigerian Army at the Isi-Court axis of Umuahia, the state capital, in an attempt to rob an unidentified man of his motorcycle.

    It was gathered that the suspect had presented a fake identity card of an army colonel which he had been using to intimidate unsuspecting members of the public.

    Confessing to the crime, the suspect, who claimed to be a final year student of civil engineering, in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, said he forged the identity card in order to recover the motorcycle that was collected from him at gunpoint.

    He claimed that he identified the motorcycle a few days after it was taken away from him by gunmen at Isi- Court in Umuahia.

    He said, “I am not an army colonel, my identity card was photo shopped. The person you saw on the I.D card is one of my Facebook friends, who is a soldier. I downloaded his picture from his Facebook account.

    “I forged the identity card because my motorcycle was stolen from me by gunmen at Isi- Court sometime this year when I was coming back from Aba.

    “The incident happened at night when I saw some people flashing light on me. I thought they were Police because they were on black, so I parked and they showed me a gun, attacked me and collected my motorcycle from me.

    “That made me angry and I went back to the army checkpoint at Ubakala and reported the incident, but they referred me to the police.

    “So, when I went to a police station in Umuahia and reported the case, they asked me to bring N20, 000 for fuel to enable them arrest the criminals. I told them that I have only N4000, but they did not agree to go with me.