Fraud trial of lawyer and three others adjourned to Oct 28

From Godwin Tsa, Abuja

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has adjourned the trial of a lawyer, Everestus Ugwuowo, and three others until 28 October. The men are accused of defrauding a woman of N29 million and forging documents to sell a house in Abuja.

The adjournment was necessitated by the court’s busy schedule.

An amended charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/121/2018, was preferred against the defendants before Justice Obiora Egwuatu by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

The amended 11-count charge, dated 29 April 2019, was filed by ACP Simon Lough, SAN. It also names Umar Sanda Adamu, Usman Audu, and Adole Christopher Oche, a staff member of the Bureau of Public Procurement, as the second to fourth defendants, respectively.

The defendants, who were arraigned in 2018, were granted bail after pleading not guilty.

They are alleged to have committed the offences in connivance with Damian Audu, Joseph Omale, and Kingsley Awodi, who are now at large. The crimes allegedly took place on or about September 2017 in Abuja.

In count one, Ugwuowo, who is said to be practising under the name Evaruth Solicitors, is alleged to have conspired with others to commit a felony by obtaining money under false pretences, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 8 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.

In count two of the charge, they are alleged to have, while acting together and with intent to defraud Mrs Grace Awajash Dauda, forged letters of authority to sell; consent to assign House 11, 62 Road, Gwarimpa Estate with No. FHA/OCE/GWA II OWU C; an Irrevocable Power of Attorney; and a Deed of Assignment.

The letters were purported to have been signed by Grema Mohammed Umar. The defendants are also accused of forging three Federal Housing Authority (FHA) receipts – a letter of offer, a letter of allocation, and a letter confirming the checking-in of owner-occupiers – in respect of the house.

These were allegedly used to deceitfully collect the sum of N29 million from Dauda on the pretence that they had the authority to sell the property.

The charge further reads: “Having collected her money, you shared it among yourselves, when you knew or had reason to believe that you did not have the authority to sell the house and that all the documents you gave to her were forged.

“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1) and punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2006.”

In count 10, the lawyer was accused of issuing Dauda a UBA dud cheque, number 77703052, on 1 December 2017, for the sum of N29 million “in repayment of the money you deceitfully collected from her.

“Which was presented for payment on 6 December 2017, and returned dishonoured for lack of sufficient funds in your account.”

This offence is said to be contrary to Section 1(1) of the Dishonoured Cheques Act CAP D11 LFN 2004.