WATCH THE VIDEO HERE The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Nigerian Police Force has arraigned First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and three other defendants before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly defrauding a woman, Mrs. Grace Akinwusi, of her property located at No. 5B Sasegbon Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos. During the court proceedings on [insert date], police prosecutor Mr. Daniel Apochi told Justice Ismail Ijelu that the bank and its co-defendants allegedly forged legal documents related to the property and fraudulently converted it for their personal use between 2008 and 2009. The other defendants in the case include Polycarp Okogun, Batik Line International Ltd, and Bolaji Adebajo, who remains at large. They face a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, and fraudulent conversion. Okogun pleaded not guilty on his own behalf and on behalf of FCMB and Batik Line International Ltd. Prosecutors allege that the defendants conspired to forge Mrs. Akinwusi’s signature on various legal documents, including an authority to create a legal mortgage, a deed of assignment, an irrevocable power of attorney, and a memorandum of understanding. These forged documents were allegedly used to fraudulently convert the complainant’s property for the defendants’ personal gain. The alleged offences contravene Sections 287, 363, 365, and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. If convicted, the defendants could face significant prison time and fines. During the arraignment, counsel for the SFU requested that the court remand the defendants in a correctional facility. However, defence counsel Mr. M.O. Abdul informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served to the prosecution. Justice Ijelu ordered that Okogun be remanded in custody until the hearing of the bail application, which is scheduled for March 26 along with the commencement of trial.
FCMB, Others Arraigned For Alleged Forgery And Fraudulent Conversion Of Lagos GRA Property
