Police arraign 3 persons over alleged forging of marriage certificate to allegedly appropriate late businessman’s property
Men of the Police Special Fraud Unit, Milverton, Ikoyi Lagos today arraigned three persons before a Federal High Court, Lagos for alleged fraud to the tune of N1,2 billion .
The three defendants were arraigned before Justice Akintoye Aluko for allegedly taken possession of stolen goods worth N1.200, 000,000 .00. They are; Charles Nwaloka male, Ogochukwu Orji a lady and Gilbert Obi Ezike.
According to the charge the defendants and others said to be at large were alleged to have sometimes in February, 2025 in Lagos with intent to defraud, did acquire several cans of Refron 22 Gas, Refron 410 Gas and other gas products valued at millions of Naira, from one Solomon Chubuzo Ehiem and Chinyere Christiana Ehiem, property of late Mr Chima Joseph Nwadike and J.C. Nwadike Technical Company represented by Emeka Nwadike and Mrs Blessing Nwadike, which property, they reasonably ought to know represent proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 20 (b) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and
Prohibition) Act,2022.
However, before the three defendants were arraigned today, the prosecutor Barrister Chukwu Agwu informed the court that he will be withdrawing charges against two principal suspects and two other suspects in the alleged crime.
He said the four suspects who have fled after being granted administrative bail and that he won’t want their absence to truncate the arraignment.
Agwu added that once the police are able to apprehend the fleeing suspects, they will be brought before the court to face justice.
The fleeing suspects are Chinyere Christiana Ehiem, a lady and Solomon Chibizor Ehiem her brother. Others are; Iheanacho Henry Izunna and Abuchi Michael.
Following the arraignment of the three defendants and their not guilty plea, their counsel moved their respective bail applications which was granted by Justice Akintayo Aluko.
Ruling on the bail application, Justice Aluko granted each of the three defendants bail in the sum of N10 million with one surety each.
He added that the sureties must either be a civil servant not less than grade level 13 in the Lagos Sate employment or federal government employment with letter of confirmation from his head of department or a landed property owner who must deposit the originals of the title document with the court.
Justice Aluko further ordered that all documents submitted in fulfilment of the bail terms should be verified by the court Registrar and the Prosecution. He thereafter adjourned the matter till July 13, 2026 for trial.
According to the charge filed by the police, the defendants; Chinyere Christiana Ehiem and her brother Solomon Chibuzor Ehiem and others at large were alleged to have on or about February, 2025 in Lagos with intent to defraud conspire amongst themselves to commit felony to wit: conversion of Refron 22 Gas, Refron 410 Gas and other gas products value at N1,200,000,000.00 to themselves and benefit.
The said properties were said to hav belonged o one late Chima Joseph Nwadike and J.C. Nwadika Technical Company represented by Emeka Nwadike and Mrs. Blessing Nwadike.
In particular, Chinyere Christiana Ehiem and others now at large with intent to defraud were alleged to have sometime in the year 2019, in Lagos knowingly forged Marriage Certificate with number: 407/018 dated 3rd January, 2019, purporting that the said marriage certificate was issued by Ojokoro Local Government Council Development Area ( LCDA) Lagos as evidence of her alleged marriage to late Mr. Chima Joseph Nwadike owner of the said property with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine in Nigeria or elsewhere to the prejudice of Mrs, Blessing Nwadike, Emeka Nwadike
According to police investigation, Chinyere and her brother Solomon Chibuzor Ehiem armed with the fake marriage certificate were alleged to have broken into the business premises of late Mr Nwadike on the pretext that Chinyere is the wife of the deceased and Carted away the goods inside the shop said to have worth about N1,200,000,000.00.
Some of the charge reads: That you, Chinyere Christian Ehiem “female and other now at large, in Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, sometime in the year 2019, in Lagos, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, with intent to defraud did knowingly forged Marriage Certificate with number: 407/018 dated 3rd January, 2019, purporting that the said marriage certificate was issued by Ojokoro Local government Council Development Area ( LCDA) Lagos as evidence of your alleged celebration of marriage with late Mr. Chima Joseph Nwadike with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere to the prejudice of Mrs, Blessing Nwadike, Emeka Nwadike and others and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2 (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, 2004.
That you Chinyere Christiana Ehiem ‘F’, SOLOMON CHIBUZO EHIEM ‘M’, IHEANACHO HENRY IZUNNA ‘M’, CHARLES NWALOKA ‘M’ ABUCHI MICHAEL ‘m’, OGOCHUKWU ORJI ‘F’, GILBERT OBI EZIKE ‘M’ and others now at large sometimes in February, 2025 in Lagos, Lagos State , within the within the jurisdiction of this honourable court with intent to defraud did conspire amongst yourselves to acquire and retain or take possession of various quantities of Refron 22 Gas, Refron 410 Gas and other gas products valued not less than N1,200,000,000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred Million Naira), which property, you reasonably ought to have known to represent proceeds of unlawful act, property of late Chima Joseph Nwadike and J.C. Nwadike Technical Company represented by Emeka Nwadike and Mrs Blessing Nwadike and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 18 (d) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act,2022, but punishable under section 18 (3) of the same Act.
