A LAGOS lawyer, Kole Bello, who allegedly forged a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of a woman’s estate,  was on Monday brought before an Igbosere High Court on the island.

Bello was arraigned alongside three men — Chukwu Victor, Friday Palmer and Osumah Terry.

They are standing trial on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

The State Prosecutor, Mr R. O. Aroyewun, told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in December 2001 at Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos.

He said the accused conspired and forged a C of O with reference no. 63/63/1989, dated Sept. 28,1989, “with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine.”

According to the prosecutor, the accused forged the said C of O to take over a plot of land which is the Estate of the late Mrs Francisca Awolaja.

The accused forged the C of O and arranged for someone to impersonate the late Awolaja in order to fraudulently convey her land to Mr Rotimi Olubeko for the sum of N5 million.

The offences contravened Sections 422, 423 and 467 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2003.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Counsel to the accused, Mr F. O. Udokporo, asked the court to allow the accused to continue on the bail initially granted them by the court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that sometime in July, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, had ordered a warrant of arrest of the accused.

The accused were supposed to be arraigned on that day but they failed to appear in court, forcing the judge to order their arrest.

At their arraignment, the accused were granted bails by the court.

Justice Taiwo, after listening to the application by the counsel to the accused, adjourned the case until Nov. 15 and Nov. 17 for trial.

She ruled that the accused should continue on the bail earlier granted them.  – NAN

– Oct 30, 2017 @ 14:36 GMT |