From: Lukman Olabiyi
A Legal practitioner, Kole Bello, and three others who allegedly forged a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of a land have been arraigned before the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere.
Others docked alongside Bello were Chukwu Victor, Friday Palmer and Osumah Terry.
They were arraigned by the state government on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, fraud and forgery.
The Prosecutor, Mr. R. O. Aroyewun, told the court that the accused committed the alleged offences sometime in December 2001, at Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Lagos.
He said that the accused conspired among themselves and forged a C of O with reference no. 63/63/1989, dated Sept. 28,1989, “with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine.”
According to the prosecutor, the accused forged the said C of O to take over a plot of land which is the Estate of late Mrs Francisca Awolaja.
He said that the accused forged the said C of O and arranged for someone to impersonate the late Awolaja in other to fraudulently convey her land to one Mr Rotimi Olubeko for the sum of N5 million.
Aroyewun, said that the offences contravened Sections 422, 423 and 467 of the Criminal Law, Cap. C17 Vol.2, Law of Lagos State, 2003.
They pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Counsel to the accused, Mr F. O. Udokporo, asked the court to allow the accused to continue enjoying the bail initially granted them by the court.
Sometime in July, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo had ordered a warrant for the arrest of the defendants except Bello, they were supposed to be arraigned on that day but failed to appear in court, thereby causing the judge to order for their arrest.
The three other defendants later appesred before the court and were granted bail .
Justice Taiwo after listening to the application by the counsel to the accused, adjourned the case until November 15 and 17 for trial and allowed them to enjoy the bail earlier granted them.