MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 59-year old man, Emmanuel Okugbo, has landed in trouble in Lagos State for allegedly obtaining money from one Ogunlola Ibrahim Bamidele to procure documents for the sole custody of children from his wife before the Court, which turned out to be scam.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that Okugbo has been arrested and charged for conspiracy, forgery and stealing.
The incident happened at Ogba Magistrate Court, Lagos.
The suspect collected the sum of N100,000 from the complainant under the false pretence of procuring documents for sole custody of children.
However, after collecting the money, he forged documents and gave to the complainant as authentic Court documents for the sole custody of children from his embattled wife.
However, the complainant later discovered that they were forged documents because no such order was made by the Court despite the fact that the suspect collected the money from him.
The matter was reported to the Police Special Strike Team. The operatives moved into action, arrested the suspect and detained him for interrogation over his alleged conduct.
After interrogation, the Police found him culpable and charged him before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence which attracts several years of imprisonment.
The charges read:
COUNT 1: “That you, Emmanuel Okugbo ‘m’ and others at large on the 21st day of January, 2022 at Ikeja in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony, to wit: Forgery and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT II: “That you, Emmanuel Okugbo ‘m’ and other at large on the same date, time and place in the Lagos Magisterial District, did forge Court Proceeding (Sole Custody) Suit No. ID/674PFM/2020 holding at Ogba Magisterial District Ogba, Lagos and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III: “That you, Emmanuel Okugbo ‘m’ and others at large on the same date, time and place in the Lagos Magisterial District, did obtain the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) from one Ogunlola Ibrahim Bamidele under the pretence of procuring “sole custody” document for him, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.”
COUNT III: “That you, Emmanuel Okugbo ‘m’ and others at large on the same date and place in the Lagos Magisterial District, did steal the sum One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) property of Ogunlola Ibrahim Bamidele ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria.”
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Akeem Raji, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since he pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that he actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs. O. Kusanu, granted him bail with two sureties, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
