A 51-year-old man, Stanley Offor, was arraigned yesterday before the Lagos High Court in Ikeja over allegations of forgery and the forceful takeover of a landed property.
The police charged Offor with four counts, including conspiracy, forgery, illegal occupation of property, and forceful takeover. He pleaded not guilty before Justice Ismail Ijelu.
Prosecutor Emmanuel Jackson requested the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility pending trial and sought a trial date. However, defence counsel Peter Madukwe informed the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution, urging the judge to grant bail on lenient terms.
Justice Ijelu adjourned the case to February 17 for a ruling on the bail application and the commencement of trial.
According to the prosecution, Offor allegedly committed the offences in 2016 in Lagos, working with accomplices who remain at large. He is accused of forging the signature and receipts of the late Mrs Comfort Eruchalu to facilitate the sublease of her property to a third party.
Additionally, Offor allegedly occupied a property owned by Cool Comfort Africa Limited, situated behind Atiku Abubakar Hall 3 at the Trade Fair Complex in Lagos. Despite being asked to vacate the premises, he reportedly refused to comply.
The prosecution stated that these offences violate Sections 2(2) and 4(1) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016, Section 516(1) of the Criminal Code C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2024, and Section 365(1) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
