Forgery: Trial Of Lawyer, 3 Others Fixed For February 22

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has fixed the trial of an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Bob Chidozie and three others on a seven-count charge of forgery of title documents for February 22, 2024.

The case was adjourned following the absence of the trial judge, Justice Samira Umar Bature, who was bereaved.

The prosecution had told the court that the defendants who were docked by the police authorities before the court forged title documents including the power of attorney with fraudulent intention of converting the property belonging to Nexume Nigeria Limited.

Others arraigned with the lawyer in the charge marked No: FCT/HC/CR/302/2023 and filed by the commissioner of police (COP) are Samuel Udoh-Imeh, Ifeanyi Abaekwueme and a private firm, Earth Conscience Limited.

While Chidozie who also doubles as managing director of Earth Conscience Limited, was a former commissioner for works in Abia State, Udoh-Imeh works in the Information Technology and Services Sector and is also an Abuja-based businessman.

On his part, Abaekwueme who is a town planner by profession, is a career civil servant with the Department of Urban and Regional Planning of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and owner and founding director of Earth Conscience Limited.

During their arraignment in court, the prosecution counsel, Adama Musa, told the court that the alleged offences are punishable under section 97 (1); 362 (a) of the Penal Code Law.

However, all the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail by Justice Samirah Umar Bature of the Maitama division of the court in the sum of N20m each and two sureties in the like sum.

The sureties, the court noted, must be a grade level 15 or above officer in the Federal civil service and must be a resident in the FCT with a valid means of identification.

Justice Bature added that the sureties must equally undertake to always produce the defendants in court and not to obstruct the cause of Justice.

In granting their separate bail applications moved by their lawyers, Justice Bature held that in view of the fact that the sole purpose of bail is to secure the attendance of the defendants in court, and considering