Lawyer Arraigned Over Alleged Land Document Forgery

The police in Edo on Wednesday arraigned a Legal Practitioner,
Smart Agbonlalor,65, and Uwangue Osaigbovo,55, in Benin for
allegedly forging a land approval document, purported to have been
issued by the Oba of Benin.

The two defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge
bothering on conspiracy and forgery before an Ogbeson Chief
Magistrates’ Court, Benin.

The Police Prosecutor, Kehinde Iyawe, said that the defendants
on July 19, along Benin/Auchi Road, Aduwawa, within Oregbeni
Magisterial District, conspired to commit felony.

Iyawe alleged that the defendants forged the document in their
bid to take possession of a land measuring 100ft by 200ft with
beacon No N35/B, 46/B, 54/B, 55/B in Aduwawa area of Benin
City.

Iyawe said the defendants alleged that the document was
purportedly issued by the then Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua ECMG, on
April 15, 1966.

He said the defendants knew the document to be false because the
landed property belonged to one Mr Henry Okwarobo, the Majority
Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 516,
and 484 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the defunct Bendel State,
1976, which is now applicable in Edo.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges
leveled against them.

The defendants’ counsels, Mr S. C. Ugoke and Mr M. I. Ukpebor,
appealed to the Chief Magistrate to grant their clients bail in
most liberal terms.

They said their clients would not jump bail and would always
appear in court.

The police prosecutor did not oppose the bail application.

Consequently, Chief Magistrate, Prince Mutairu Oare, admitted
the defendants to a bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with one
surety in the like sum.

He said that the surety must be a responsible person and must
depose to an affidavit of means.

Oare also directed that the surety must deposit two recent
passport photographs of himself and that of the defendants with the
court.

He added that information about the surety’s residence should be
verified by the court registrar.

The chief magistrate adjourned the case until Aug. 23 for
hearing. NAN

The police in Edo on Wednesday arraigned a Legal Practitioner,
Smart Agbonlalor,65, and Uwangue Osaigbovo,55, in Benin for
allegedly forging a land approval document, purported to have been
issued by the Oba of Benin.

The two defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge
bothering on conspiracy and forgery before an Ogbeson Chief
Magistrates’ Court, Benin.

The Police Prosecutor, Kehinde Iyawe, said that the defendants
on July 19, along Benin/Auchi Road, Aduwawa, within Oregbeni
Magisterial District, conspired to commit felony.

Iyawe alleged that the defendants forged the document in their
bid to take possession of a land measuring 100ft by 200ft with
beacon No N35/B, 46/B, 54/B, 55/B in Aduwawa area of Benin
City.

Iyawe said the defendants alleged that the document was
purportedly issued by the then Oba of Benin, Oba Akenzua ECMG, on
April 15, 1966.

He said the defendants knew the document to be false because the
landed property belonged to one Mr Henry Okwarobo, the Majority
Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 516,
and 484 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the defunct Bendel State,
1976, which is now applicable in Edo.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges
leveled against them.

The defendants’ counsels, Mr S. C. Ugoke and Mr M. I. Ukpebor,
appealed to the Chief Magistrate to grant their clients bail in
most liberal terms.

They said their clients would not jump bail and would always
appear in court.

The police prosecutor did not oppose the bail application.

Consequently, Chief Magistrate, Prince Mutairu Oare, admitted
the defendants to a bail in the sum of N200,000 each, with one
surety in the like sum.

He said that the surety must be a responsible person and must
depose to an affidavit of means.

Oare also directed that the surety must deposit two recent
passport photographs of himself and that of the defendants with the
court.

He added that information about the surety’s residence should be
verified by the court registrar.

The chief magistrate adjourned the case until Aug. 23 for
hearing. NAN