Arraignment of lawyers, developer over alleged document forgery, stalled due to ill health
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The scheduled arraignment of two lawyers and a real estate developer before the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) complex over alleged documents forgery and demolition was stalled on Tuesday due to absence of the third defendant from court.
The defendants, Adebayo Akeju (1st), a partner at Adon Partners; Ademola Owolabi (2nd), managing partner of Ademola Adetokunbo & Co.; and a real estate developer Alex Ochonogor (3rd) are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit forgery, forgery, and willful destruction of property.
The case which was filed by the Lagos State Government under suit number LD/23611C/2024, involves allegations of forged land documents and unlawful demolition of property in the Lekki area.
When the case was called for arraignment on Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins announced appearance for the state. Dr. Abiodun Layonu (SAN) represented the first defendant, A.A. Durojaiye appeared for the second defendant while Tony Ejere represented the third defendant.
Akeju, dragging a photojournalist over claim he wanted to take his photograph
Ejere informed the court that third defendant Ochonogor could not attend due to a medical emergency and had been taken to Lagoon Hospital earlier in the morning. He requested for an adjournment.
However, DPP Martins did not oppose the application, stating, “The defendant needs to be alive to stand trial.”
Justice Serifat Sonaike granted the adjournment but directed that all necessary filings be completed before the next adjourned date.
She also ordered that Ochonogor must appear at the next hearing for his arraignment.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired in 2015 to forge an affidavit of loss and a demolition notice, purportedly issued by the Lagos State Lands Bureau, to falsely claim that a Certificate of Occupancy issued to one Hamza Al-Mustapha was missing.
The suspects, Owolabi (left) and Akeju.
They are also accused of forging a memorandum of loss for the same document and willfully demolishing a bungalow located at Plot 10, Block 133, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme I.
The property reportedly belongs to Dr. Obidigwe Eze, a Nigerian residing abroad.
Immediately after the court session, a mild altercation occurred when one of the defendants allegedly assaulted a Guardian photojournalist, Ayodele Adeniran, who attempted to take his photograph.
The journalist was physically dragged and only released after showing his camera to prove that no pictures had been taken.
