A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja has arraigned First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and three other defendants on charges of forgery and mortgage fraud.
The defendants, including FCMB, Okogun Polycarp, Batik Line International Limited, and the absconding Bolaji Adebajo, were accused of conspiring to forge legal documents in connection with a property dispute.
At the court’s sitting on Tuesday, the charges were read to the defendants, who all pleaded not guilty to the four counts brought against them by the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police. Okogun Polycarp appeared in court to represent himself, FCMB, and Batik Line International Limited.
Following their not-guilty pleas, the court ordered the defendants’ remand in a correctional facility. Prosecution counsel, M. Daniel Apochi, requested the remand of the accused, while defense counsel, M.O. Abdul, informed the court that bail applications had been filed for the defendants. The applications were reportedly served to the prosecution on March 10.
Justice Ijelu adjourned the case to March 24 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of trial. The judge ordered the first defendant, Okogun Polycarp, to be remanded in custody until then.
The charges against the defendants include conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, fraudulent conversion, and theft, in violation of several sections of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The prosecution claims that between 2008 and 2009, the defendants forged the signature of Mrs. Grace Adenike Akinwusi on critical legal documents related to her property at No. 5B, Sasegbon Street, GRA, Ikeja. These forged documents were allegedly used to unlawfully convert the property for personal gain.
The case continues, with the defendants facing serious charges of fraud, theft, and forgery.
Source: Daily Independent
