A Lagos High Court has adjourned till 22 February 2018 for the trial of the managing director of a limited liability company and two others alleged to have committed forgery to commence.
The suspects, Tochukwu Iwuoha and Jude Unagha and Sidol Investment Limited were arraigned on a six-count criminal charge by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, before Justice S.O Solebo presiding over a Lagos High Court,
In the charge number ID/6109/17 filed by the EFCC, Iwuoha and Jude Unagha and the company, Sidol Investment Limited, were alleged to have forged a document purported to have emanated from the Department of Commercial Law, Trade Marks, Patient and Design Registry, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment. According to the charge, Tochukwu Iwuoha and Jude Unagha were specifically alleged to have sometimes in May 2016 forged a document entitled ‘Acknowledgement Form’ purported to have emanated from the Department of Commercial Law,Trade Marks, Patient and Design Registry, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment . One of the six counts specifically alleged that Tochukwu Iwuoha on or about 30th August, 2017 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the court had in his possession a forged document titled ‘Acknowledgement Form’ . The offence alleged to have been committed according to the charge is said to be contrary to section 363 ( 1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The two accused after listening to the charge pleaded not guilty and the trial judge Justice Solebo after listening to the bail application of the accused persons granted bail to the first accused, Tochukwu Iwuoha, in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties according to the judge must be a landed property owner within the jurisdiction of the court and sworn to affidavit of means and evidence of two years tax payment. The court further directed that the title documents submitted must be verified by the court registrar while the accused was ordered not to travel outside the state without the permission of the court. Justice Solebo also added that the addresses of the sureties must be verified by court officials.
The judge also granted the same bail conditions to the third defendant, Sidol Investment Limited represented by the accused managing Director. The second defendant Jude Unagha was granted bail in the sum of N 1 million with two sureties in like sum. The sureties according to the judge must reside within the jurisdiction of the court with one of the sureties being a landed property owner with title documents which must be verified by Court Registrar . The sureties must also show evidence of two years tax payment.
-serekode@yahoo.com