Court don remand four cybercafé operators for forgery inside Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State. The Chief Magistrates’ Court 1, wey dey presided over by His Worship Erinma Maduagwu, order the remand of Onuoha Ikechukwu (40), Daniel Lawrence (27), Odinaka Onyeforo (37), and Ndukwe Chukwu (50) inside the Nigeria Correctional Service facility in Aba.
The four men dey face three-count charge of conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery of Power of Attorney, which be act reserved for qualified legal practitioners. According to the charge sheet, dem operate at Nos. 2F and 2J Pound Road Extension, Aba, and dem don dey involved in illicit activities for years. Onuoha Ikechukwu, the first defendant, get caught with over 70 forged Powers of Attorney, bearing the names of both living and deceased lawyers.
The suspects, who often get patronised by lawyers for legal document preparation, allegedly steal lawyers’ letterheads and, in connivance with other syndicates now at large, prepare illegal documents for unsuspecting clients, using stamps and seals of deceased lawyers. Prosecutor Uzoamaka Emmanuel state that their actions violate sections 516A(a), 484, and 465, punishable under section 467(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 80 Vol. III Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.
The charge sheet further state that the suspects forge numerous Power of Attorney documents using fraudulent details and legal representation. Dem falsely present demselves as licensed surveyors and legal practitioners by preparing Deeds of Power of Attorney using stolen letterheads and the names of lawyers, including one Van Abakwuo and Mr. Izuchukwu Onyeoma.
The defendants, represented by their lawyers, plead not guilty to the charges. The trial magistrate adjourn the matter to Friday, October 25, for consideration of their bail application and order their remand in the Aba Nigeria Correctional Service facility.
Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Aba branch, Barr. Charles Oluchukwu, who lead other lawyers to the court, comment on the case, “These perpetrators have truly dealt with us (lawyers). The Bar pass a resolution that such individuals caught should be prosecuted, and some of our colleagues who are aiding them in signing those documents should be reported to the Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee in Abuja for prosecution, with the possibility of having their licences withdrawn.”
