Court Compels Appearance Of Construction Firm, Borini Prono, MD, Others Over Alleged Forgery

Two of The Defendants in The Charge, Paolo Brono & Gianfranco Albertazzi

Court Compels Appearance Of Construction Firm, Borini Prono, MD, Others Over Alleged Forgery

Justice Lewis Allagoa of a Federal High Court, Lagos, today, compelled the appearance of Paolo Brono, Gianfranco Albertazzi and one A. Prono, said to be alter ego of Borini Prono & Company Nigeria Limited, to answer the charges of forgery leveled against them by the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The three defendants, who are Italians, were charged before the court presided over by Justice Muhammed Liman, by the AGF sometimes on February 18, 2021, alongside their company, Borini Prono & Company Nigeria Limited, on charges bordering on forgery.

AGF had in a charged marked FHC/L/338c/2020, accused the Italians of forging the signature of one  Christopher Uzodike, as well as forging several invoices belonging to his company,  Land Technology Limited.

They were said to have forged the company’s invoices with serial numbers 00019; 00024; 00012; 00139 and 0034 and Mr. Uzodike’s signature, with an intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of Mr. Christopher Uzodike.

The defendants were alleged to have committed the offense between 2008 and 2009, in Lagos State.

The Offences, according to the AGF’s counsel, Mrs. Kehinde Bode-Ayeni, contravened sections 3(6) and 1(2)(c) and punishable under section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

 At the resumed hearing of the charges against the Italians today, before Justice Allagoa, the prosecutor informed the court court that the three defendants have at large, since the charge was filed against them.

However, counsel to the defendants’ firm, Messr  G. E. Ojeikhudua and W. A. Esan, told the court that they appearance was for the company not for the Italians.AGF Charges 2 Italians, Firm For Forging Nigerian’s Signature, Documents.

Following the submissions of the firm’s counsel, Justice Allagoa, held that if the counsel could represent the defendants’firm, they should ensure that all the defendants appear before the court to take their plea.

Consequently, the presiding judge adjourned the hearing of the charges till next Friday, June 25, and compelled the appearance of the defendants before the court.

Count one of the charges against the defendants read: “that you, Borini Prono & Company Nigeria Limited, Paolo Brono ‘M’, Gianfranco Albertazzi ‘M’ and one other (A. Prono), now at large, between 2008 and 2009, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lagos, did conspire among yourselyes to commit a felony, to wit: forgery of signatures of Christopher Uzodike and Invoices of Land Technologies Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3(6),1(2)(c),  and punishable under section 1(10) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. 

Last count reads: “that you, Borini Prono & Company Nigeria Limited, Paolo Prono ‘m’, Gianfranco Albertazzi ‘M’ and one other (A. Prono), now at Jarge, between 2008 and 2009, in Lagos State, within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Lagos, did knowingly forge Land Technologies Limited Invoice No. 0034, dated 20/6/009 and the signature of Mr Christopher Uzodike, knowing same to be false, and with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of Mr Christopher Uzodike and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellancous Offences Act, Cap. M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”. 

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