From Joseph Obukata, Warri
Akpata Reuben, a lawyer practising in Warri, has been charged with forgery and theft and arraigned before a Warri South Chief Magistrates’ Court.
At the court presided over by Chief Magistrate (Special Grade) E.N. Sohwo, where he was docked on Wednesday, he is being tried on four counts of conspiracy, forgery, theft, and fraud.
When the charges were read to him on a charge sheet with the number MW/209/2022, the accused, however, pleaded not guilty to them.
According to the prosecuting attorney, Superintendent of Police (SP), Sunday Irabor, the crime was committed between August and October 2021 on the Warri/Sapele Road in the Warri Magisterial District by the accused and other people who are still at large.
Irabor claimed that the accused faked the “family resolution” of the late Mr. Inor Elifus and listed a few people to handle the estate of the deceased.
He further claimed that the accused fraudulently withdrew N1,400,000 from the late Mr. Elifus’s account.
The accused testified to an affidavit in support of his motion on notice dated August 3, 2021, and identified himself as the late Mr. Elifus’ brother, the prosecuting attorney informed the court.
Irabor further alleged that the defendant obtained the late Mr. Elifus’s death certificate from the National Population Commission on August 23, 2021, allowing him to withdraw N1,400,000.00 from the deceased’s account.
According to him, the offences were punishable under Sections 516, 467(1)(f), 390(a), and 484 of the Delta State Criminal Code Law Cap C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Nigeria, 2006.
However, Chief Magistrate Sohwo granted the accused bail and adjourned the case for hearing on January 10, 2023.