A Federal High Court, Lagos, has ordered the remand of an Indian, Omkar Shinde and two others for allegedly forging Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) receipts.

The other two persons ordered to be remanded by Justice Saliu Saidu led-court are: Chucks Okeke and Shittu Adedeji.

Okeke, Shinde and Adedeji and a limited liability company, Everchem Paints Nigeria Limited, were arraigned before Justice Saidu on a three-count charge of forgery.

The prosecutor, Olofindare Adeleke, a Senior State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, alleged that Okeke and Shinde, an Indian, and Everchem Paints, forged 15 SON receipts on February 12, 2020 at Close 6, House 4 Satellite Town, Lagos, and at 110/114 Oshodi Apapa Expressway, Isolo.

Adeleke said the defendants committed the alleged offence “with Intent to use the false documents as genuine”.

SON in a charge marked FHC/L/54c/2020, said Okeke and Shinde forged receipts numbered TCI/S621 dated 17/10/2016;  TCI/5523 (16/11/2016), TC1/5524 (16/11/2016), TCI/1008 (12/04/2018), TCI/1366 (21/06/2018), TCI/268 (22/02/2018), TCI/1161 (10/05/2018), TCI/ 1008 (04/04/2018) and TCI/SS40 (13/01/2017).

Others are TCI/348 (12/03/2018), TCI/50127 (22/11/2017), TCI/4381 (30/11/2017), TCI/50128 (22/11/2017), TCI/57542 (28/06/2017) and TCI 50128 (22/ 11/2017).

The prosecution said it was with the “intention of causing the forged documents to be believed to have been issued by SON and use same as genuine”.

SON said Adedeji, on February 12 at 2, Morebise Egan, Igando, “did present false documents to SON officials, which you knew or have reason to know same to be false with intent to use the false documents as genuine”.

The alleged offence is contrary to Section 465 and punishable under sections 467 and 516 of the Criminal Code Act CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004. 

The defendants pleaded not guilty. 

Defendants counsel, who includes: E. O Pobeni (for the first defendant), Tiwalade Aderoju (for the second and fourth defendants) and I. C. Ituma (for third defendant) told the court that they filed bail applications on their clients’ behalf.

Justice Saidu ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Services.

Justice Saidu adjourned until March 4, for hearing  and determination of the defendants’ bail applications.