A Chief Magistrates’ Court 1, sitting in Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State, has remanded four commercial computer centre operators in the Nigeria Correctional Service facility in Aba.
The accused, Onuoha Ikechukwu (40), Daniel Lawrence (27), Odinaka Onyeforo (37), and Ndukwe Chukwu (50), were arraigned before the court, presided over by His Worship Erinma Maduagwu, on three counts of conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery of a Power of Attorney, an act reserved for qualified legal practitioners.
According to the charge sheet, the suspects operated at Nos. 2F and 2J Pound Road Extension, Aba, near the court, and had been involved in illicit activities for years. The first defendant, Onuoha Ikechukwu, was caught with over 70 forged Powers of Attorney, bearing the names of both living and deceased lawyers.
The suspects, who were often patronised by lawyers for legal document preparation, allegedly stole lawyers’ letterheads and, in connivance with other syndicates now at large, prepared illegal documents for unsuspecting clients, using stamps and seals of deceased lawyers.
Prosecutor Uzoamaka Emmanuel stated that their actions violated 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.
Counts two and three accused the defendants of falsely presenting themselves 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 charge sheet further stated that the suspects forged numerous Power of Attorney documents using fraudulent details and legal representation.
Peoplesmind
