EFCC To Commence Prosecution Of 77-Year-Old Accused Of Forgery, Illicit Land Sales In Ogwashi-Uku
THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Benin Zonal Office, has secured a ruling of the Federal High Court, Asaba, allowing the anti-graft commission to commence the prosecution of an accused person, Prince Clement Nnamdi Okonjo, aged 77, on March 22, 2023, based on a four-count charge bothering on forgery and fraudulent sales of properties belonging to Kikachukwu Agricultural Enterprises Limited, Ogwashi-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.
Okonjo had earlier been arraigned on January 18, 2023 in a suit marked FHC/ASB/227C/22, but Justice F.O. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court, Asaba, after granting him bail, dependent on the accused meeting the set bail conditions, ruled that the 77-year-old appear in court for definite hearing on the suit on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.
In a verifying affidavit deposed to at the Federal High Court, Asaba, by Abraham Bhodaghe, a litigation clerk with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, No. 1, Court Road, GRA, Benin-City, Edo State, it was noted that witnesses have been lined up to testify at the hearing of the case, in which the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the complainant and Prince Clement Nnamdi Okonjo as defendant.
In the charge sheet signed by Audu Ibrahim and Francis A. Jirbo of the Legal and Prosecution Department, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, No. 1, Court Road, GRA, Benin-City, which was served on the defendant, Count One read “that you, Clement Nnamdi Okonjo (M) on or about 22nd day of July, 2016 at Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did with intent that it may in any way be acted upon as genuine, did make a false document titled: “Ordinary Resolution of Kikachukwu Agricultural Enterprises Limited” dated 22nd July, 2016 and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.
Count two bothered on the accused making false documents titled: “Form CAC 7: Particulars of Directors or any change therein” in respect of Kikachukwu Agricultural Enterprises Limited, dated 22nd July, 2016, while Count three was also on forgery, but in respect of document, titled: “Ordinary Resolution of Kikachukwu Agricultural Enterprises Limited” for allotment of shares dated 22nd July, 2016, as well as Count Four, another case of forgery, this time bothering on document titled: “Form CAC 2A: Return of Allotment (Post Incorporation)” in respect of Kikachukwu Agricultural Enterprises Limited presented for filing on 28 July, 2016.
In each of the four charges, it was variously noted that thereby, Prince Clement Nnamdi Okonjo committed an offence punishable under Section (1) 2 (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2007.
