By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
An alleged land speculator, notably known as a land grabber, Ikem George Anagwu, was docked before Chief Magistrate Eniola Ogunkanmi of an Igbosere Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on one-count-charge of forgery.
The defendant was docked by the operatives of Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday.
Arraigning the defendant, the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, of the FCID Legal Department ForceCID, Annex, Alagbon-Ikoyi, informed the court that the defendant sometimes in 2021, at Oko Ado village, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, within the Lagos Magisterial District, forged the signature of one Kingsley Ehikioya, on a document titled ‘Deed of Assignment’.
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It was further alleged that the defendant fraudulently used the said ‘Deed of Assignment’ between an Engineering firm, Nonskanin Engineering Limited and Kingsley Ehikioya.
According to the charge, the defendant’s alleged criminal act, contravened Section 365(3)(e) of the Criminal Law Chapter C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015, and punishable under the same law.
After hearing the charge preferred against him, Ikem George Anagwu, denied the allegation and pleaded not guilty to the one count charge.
In view of his ‘not guilty’ plea, the prosecutor, Animashaun, urged the court to remand the defendant in the prison custody, while also asked the court for a trial date.
However, the defendant counsel urged the court to admit the defendant to bail, on the ground that the charge against him is a bailable one, adding that he has credible sureties to stand for him.
Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi in his ruling, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties in like sum.
The Chief Magistrate further ordered that the sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and show to court evidence of three years tax payment to the Lagos State government.
Chief Magistrate Ogunkanmi while adjourning the matter to September 29, 2023, for mention, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS), till he is able to meet the bail terms.
The Charge against the defendant reads: “That you IKEM GEORGE ANAGWU ‘M’, sometime in 2021 at Oko Ado village, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, forged the Signature of one, Kingsley Ehikioya ‘M’ on a document titled ‘Deed of Assignment between Nonskanin Engineering Limited and Mr. Kingsley Ehikioya thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 365(3)(e) of the Criminal Law Ch. C17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State 2015.”