A middle-aged man, Isaac Benson Oluchukwu, was today arraigned before a Tafawa Balewa High Court of Lagos State, on the alleged crimes of forgery and impersonation, by the operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID) Annex Alagbon-Ikoyi Lagos.
Oluchukwu according to the prosecutor, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a legal officer in the Legal/prosecutor department of the ForceCID, was arrested on November 22, 2024, on the alleged offences.
Animashaun while arraigning the defendant before the court presided over by Justice Sherifat Sonaike, told the court that the defendant forged a Cameroon International Passport and belonging to one Adolphe Mboumte, which he embossed with his picture as the owner.
He also told the court that the defendant, impersonated the owner of the Cameroonian international passport, Adolphe Mboumte.
The prosecutor specifically told the court that the defendant was arrested on November 22, 2024, at Muritala Muhammed International Airport ikeja Lagos, with the forged international passport, after presented himself as Adolphe Mboumte, (a Cameroonian). But upon further interrogation, it was discovered that he actually forged the passport.
He told the court that the illegal acts of the defendant, are contrary to Section 363(1)(b) and 380 and punishable under Section 365(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Ch. 17, Vol. 3, Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Based on his not guilty plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date. And urged the court to remand the defendant pending trial.
However, lawyer to the defendant, Barrister Chris kodu, orally applied for his client’s bail, but his request was rejected by the presiding judge, who ordered him to file a formal application before the court.
Consequently, Justice Sonaike while adjourning the matter to May 5, 2025, for trial, ordered that the defendant be remanded pending when his bail application will be filed, heard and determined.
