By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A former executive director of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB), Mrs Omotola Olutola has disowned the signature on a document issued by a businessman, one Bernard Nzenwa who was charged for the offence of issuance of false document.
Mrs Olutola was testifying before Justice Ramon Oshodi of Ikeja Special Offences Court in the trial of the defendant.
Bernard Nzenwa is standing trial alongside his company, Omega Maritime and Energy Ltd on one count charge of issuance of false document, before an Ikeja Special Offences Court. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Trial commenced with the prosecution calling Mrs Olutola as its witness.
She was led in evidence by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) counsel, Mr Gabriel Akaogu.
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Olutola who introduced herself to the court as a legal practitioner and retired banker, while testifying before the court, identified a document in contention, which the court had previously admitted as Exhibit C1 in the matter.
The witness identified the document in contention titled, “Bond For The Re-Exportation Of Imported Goods Delivered Without Payment Of Import Duties,”
Olutola denied being the owner of the signature on the said document.
“This is absolutely not my signature. It does not look even remotely like mine,” she told the court.
The witness was given a plain sheet of A4 paper upon which she was ordered by the court to sign her signature ten times on it.
Thereafter, the prosecutor cited Section 101 of the Evidence Act and applied to tender the signature specimens as evidence before the court, which was admitted in evidence following no objections from defence counsel, Mr Clinton Ezezie.
Under cross-examination by the defence counsel, the witness told the court that she left the bank five years ago and bond in her name would be signed by her.
“Bond at that time was ink and not electronic signature,” she said.
The prosecution alleged that Nzenwa, his company and one Dr. Oluchi Nzenwa, (now at large), sometimes on March 9, 2011, issued a false document titled, “Bond For The Re-Exportation Of Imported Goods Delivered Without Payment Of Import Duties,” which he purported to have emanated from GTB
The prosecution submitted that the alleged offence contravened Section 360(1)(b) and punishable under Section 364(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until June 14 for continuation of trial.
