Police Arraign 2 Persons For Forging Late Monarch’s Will

Police Arraign 2 Persons For Forging Late Monarch’s Will

A man, Augustine Talabi and one Princess Funmilayo Abasi, were today, arraigned before an Ebute-metta Chief Magistrate Court, Lagos, for allegedly forged a Will and Testamental of the Late Monarch of Bajerokun of Oke-Agbo, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, Oba Haruna Olaoye Abass.

The two accused persons were arraigned before the court presided over by Magistrate F. M. Kayode-Alamu (Mrs) by the men of Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID) Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on charges bordering on conspiracy, forgery and forcefully take over another person’s property.

The two defendants and others now at large, according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu A. Animashaun, between June 26 and August 23, 2019, conspired to commit the alleged offences.

Specifically, Animashaun told the court that the defendants had between the mentioned date, at the Probate Section of Igbosere High Court, Lagos, knowingly made or procured a forged Will and Testamental of the late monarch.

He also told the court that the defendants apart from forging the late Monarch’s Will, also forcibly took over a large expanse of land measuring 24 hectares, belonging to Abbas Organization Nigeria Limited, a company owned by the late monarch, at Oribanwa Adeba Village, near Lakowe, Ibeju-Lekki, and sold off two acres for N50 million and converted the proceeds to their personal pursue.

The defendants’ alleged offences, according to the prosecutor, are contrary to section 411, 365(3)(f) and 287(5) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Law. 2015 and punishable under the same law. 

The two defendants denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

With the defendants’ not guilty plea, the prosecutor, Animashaun, urged the court to remand them in the custody of Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) till the determination of the charges against them.

However, their counsel, E. O. Pippa, pleaded with the court to admit his clients to bail in the most liberal terms adding that the charges against them was a bailable one and that they remain innocent until contrary is proving.

The presiding magistrate, Mrs. Kayode-Alamu, in her ruling, admitted the two defendants to bail in the sum of N500, 000, 00 with two sureties each

The sureties, according to the magistrate, must be gainfully employed, with the evidence of three years payment to the Lagos State Government.

The magistrate, while adjourned the matter till February 10, 2021, for mention, ordered that the defendants be remanded in NCoS’ custody till the fulfilment of the bail term.

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