A Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday arraigned First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and three other defendants over alleged forgery and mortgage fraud. Aside from First City Monument Bank (FCMB), the other defendants include; Okogun Polycarp, Batik Line International Limited, and Bolaji Adebajo, who is currently at large.
The Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police has filed a four-count charge against the defendants, including conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, and fraudulent conversion, in violation of Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The prosecution alleges that between 2008 and 2009, the defendants conspired to forge the signature of Mrs. Grace Adenike Akinwusi on several legal documents, including an authority to create a legal mortgage, a deed of assignment, an irrevocable power of attorney, and a memorandum of understanding. These forged documents were allegedly used to fraudulently convert her property at No. 5B, Sasegbon Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.
Following the submissions by the counsel, Justice Ijelu, ordered the remand of the 1st defendant (Polycarp) in correctional center pending the hearing of his bail application. He however adjourned the matter till March 24 for the hearing of the bail application and the commencement of the trial.
