Kemisola Oye
THE Police Special Fraud Unit (SFU) has arraigned Chinwe Onuoha and Elhcrim Nigeria Limited before Justice Hakeem Oshodi of a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a twelve-count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery, and the uttering of false documents, aimed at defrauding the Bank of Industry.
The charges, filed by the SFU, detail how the defendants, along with others (now at large) allegedly conspired in 2020 to forge a lease agreement dated 12 February 2018.
The forged document was purportedly submitted to the Bank of Industry as part of a scheme to fraudulently secure a loan to the detriment of Ngozi Braide.
Details of the Charges:
The first count accuses the defendants of conspiracy to commit forgery by creating a false lease agreement, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The second count alleges conspiracy to commit uttering of a false document, highlighting that the forged lease agreement was knowingly used and submitted to the Bank of Industry as an authentic document, also in violation of Section 516 of the Criminal Code.
The third and fourth counts focus on forgery of signatures, accusing Onuoha and Elhcrim Nigeria Limited of falsifying the signatures of Ngozi Braide and Titilayo Opeyemi on the lease agreement.
These actions were allegedly carried out with full knowledge that the signatures were fake, intending to use the document as genuine before the bank.
The court was informed that the forged documents posed significant risks to the financial institution and the individuals whose signatures were fraudulently used.
During the arraignment, Chinwe Onuoha pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Representing the police, the head of legal at the SFU, Emmanuel Jackson, requested the court to proceed to trial and sought the remand of the defendant at a correctional facility pending the conclusion of the case.
However, defence counsel Ikechukwu Chiha urged the court to hear the defendant’s bail application, citing the need for her to prepare adequately for their defence.
After hearing both parties, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to 25 February 2025 for the hearing of the bail application.
In the interim, the judge ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional facility pending further proceedings.
Eighteen-Eleven Media