A 51-year-old man, Stanley Offor, was yesterday arraigned before the Lagos High Court in Ikeja over alleged forgery and the forceful takeover of a landed property.
The police charged Offor with four counts, including conspiracy, forgery, illegal occupation of property, and forceful takeover of property. He pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Ismail Ijelu.
The prosecution, led by Mr Emmanuel Jackson, urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending the commencement of trial and sought a trial date.
However, the defence counsel, Mr Peter Madukwe, informed the court that he had filed a bail application, which had been served on the prosecution. He pleaded with the court to grant Offor bail on liberal terms.
Justice Ijelu adjourned the case to February 17 for a ruling on the bail application and the commencement of trial.
The prosecution alleged that Offor committed the offences in 2016 in Lagos, in collaboration with accomplices who are still at large. He is accused of forging the signature and receipts of the late Mrs Comfort Eruchalu, purportedly to facilitate the sublease of her property to a third party.
Offor is also accused of unlawfully occupying a property owned by Cool Comfort Africa Limited, located behind Atiku Abubakar Hall 3 at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos. Despite being asked to vacate the property on behalf of its rightful owners, he allegedly failed to comply.
The prosecution stated that the offences contravene Sections 2(2) and 4(1) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016, Section 516(1) of the Criminal Code C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024, and Section 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015. (Guardian)