An Ikeja High Court has scheduled March 11 for the arraignment of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and three other defendants over allegations of forgery and mortgage fraud. The other defendants in the case are Okogun Polycarp, Batik Line International Ltd, and Bolaji Adebajo.
Justice Ismail Ijelu adjourned the arraignment due to the absence of the defendants in court.
Counsel from the Special Fraud Unit, Mr. Daniel Apochi, informed the court that the defendants had been notified of the arraignment but expressed displeasure over their absence. He requested an adjournment to allow the court sheriff to serve the defendants formally
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the prosecution filed a four-count charge against the defendants, accusing them of conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, and fraudulent conversion.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences occurred between 2008 and 2009 in Lagos.
In the charge sheet, it was alleged that the defendants forged the signature of the complainant, one Grace Akinwusi, on several legal documents.
The legal documents allegedly forged included an authority to create a legal mortgage, a deed of assignment, an irrevocable power of attorney, and a memorandum of understanding.
It stated that the forged documents were allegedly used to fraudulently convert the complainant’s property, situated at 5B, Sasegbon Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State, to their own personal use.
According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences violate Sections 287, 363, 365, and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
