A Lagos based legal practitioner, Chinwe Onuoha and a company, Eihcrim Nigeria Limited have been arraigned before a Lagos State High Court, Ikeja for alleged forgery, fraud and cybercrime.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Hakeem Oshodi by the police on a 12 count-charge.
In the charge preferred against the defendants by the Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU), it was alleged that the duo and others now at large sometime in 2020 within the jurisdiction of the court, did conspire to make a false document titled “the lease agreement” dated 12th February 2018, knowing it to be false, and submitted to Bank of Industry with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by Bank to the prejudice of Ngozi Braide.
The forged document was purportedly submitted to the Bank of Industry as part of a scheme to fraudulently secure a loan, to the detriment of Ngozi Braide.
The offences according to the charge are contrary to Section 516, 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code Cap. C38, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Part of the charge read: “That you, CHINWE ONUOHA “F”, EIHCRIM NIGERIA LIMITED and others at large sometime in 2020 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did make forged writing to wit: the signature of Titilayo Opeyemi in the document titled “Lease Agreement” dated 12th February 2018, knowing the signature to be false with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine by Bank of Industry to the prejudice of Ngozi Braide”.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Following the defendants’ plea, the police prosecutor, Emmanuel Jackson, urged the court to give a trial date and sought for the remand of the defendant at a correctional facility pending the conclusion of the case.
However, defense counsel Ikechukwu Chiaha urged the court to hear the defendants’ bail application, citing the need for her to prepare adequately for her defense.
After hearing both parties, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to February 25 for the hearing of the bail application.
The court, however, ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional facility pending further proceedings.
(Independent)
