The Federal Government has filed a three-count charge against First Bank of Nigeria Limited, its Managing Director, and three others before a High Court sitting in Abuja over allegations bordering on forgery.

The defendants in charge No: CV/266/2023 and filed by a deputy director from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Dr Christian Erhaboh, include two lawyers, Muftua Ande and Dibiaezue Chuks; First Bank of Nigeria; Managing Director of First Bank of Nigeria; and the Branch Manager of the Utako branch of the bank.

The defendants were accused, among other things, of forging a “tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with intent to commit fraud.”

The defendants were also accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property using the forged tripartite legal mortgage.

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In count one, the defendants were charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy contrary to section 96 of the Penal Code law and punishable under section 97 of the Penal Code Law.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants had sometimes in 2016, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired among themselves to forge a tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplains British School, Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with the intent to commit fraud.

In count two, the defendants were charged with forgery contrary to section 363 of the Penal Code law and punishable under section 364 of the same law.

The prosecution alleged that the defendants, sometimes in 2016, within the jurisdiction of the court, forged tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of Nwufor.

In count three, the defendants were accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property while being entrusted with the tripartite legal mortgage.

The presiding judge, Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie, however, adjourned till May 8, 2023, for arraignment.

The judge made the declaration after the prosecution counsel, Ndidi Ezinwa-Ukoha, said all the defendants were yet to be served with the charge.

The Star