The absence of one of the defendants, Dawodu Olakunle Sheriff has stalled continuation of hearing in a criminal suit filed by the Inspector General of Police, against the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and four others over alleged forgery of documents.
UBA Plc and other were alleged to have forged land documents said to belong to a former Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Aliu Attah.
Others listed as UBA Plc’s co-defendants the suit marked LD/17351C/2021, were: Kolawole Oluwatosin Taiwo, Floormate Services Limited, Samuel Adekankwu, and Dawodu Olakunle Sheriff.
The charge was filled by the Force Criminal Investigation Department ForceCID (Annex), Alagbon, Lagos.
They were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit forgery, making documents without authority and using false document contrary to Section
411 and Punishable under Section 368 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Forgery is punishable under section 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
At the hearing of the charge on February 21, 2023, the 5th defendant, who has been remanded in Ikoyi prison was not produced court.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Attorney-General of Lagos State has effectively took over the prosecution of the case
R. M. A Olateju from the Office of the Attorney-General of Lagos State, had informed the court that the AG would like to take over the case, and urged the court grant a short adjustment.
He said a week adjournment would be enough to file amended information against the defendants.
He also told the court that a copy of DPP Legal Advice has been served on counsel to the defendants.
Justice Serifat Sonaike granted the request and urged the AG to file necessary information and service counsel to the defendants.
The Judge stated that she would have loved to conclude with the evidence in chief of the complaint, former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Attah, but for intervention of the AG, Lagos.
The matter has been adjourned till March 28 for re-arraigment of the defendant on amended charge, and continuation of trial.
One of the charges against the defendants in an amended charge read: “Statement Of Offence; Conspiracy to Commit Forgery, Making Documents without Authority and Using False Document Contrary to Section 411 and Punishable under Section 365 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
Particulars of offence: “That you Kolawole Oluwatosin Taiwo, , United Bank For Africa (Uba Plc), Samuel Adekankwu, Floormate Services Ltd, Dawodu Olakunle Sheriff and others at large on or sometimes in the year 2013 in Lagos, within the Judicial Division of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit Felony to Wit: Forgery, Making Documents Without Authority And Using False Document and thereby Committed an Offence”.
