MICHAEL AKINOLA
A Lagos Lawyer, Barr. Chinwuba Ekene, has landed in trouble for allegedly forging Court judgment, using it to eject a tenant from apartment and carting away her property worth N49.6m before the Court order was later found to be fake.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the 39-year old lawyer, Barr. Ekene, has been arrested and charged before the Yaba Magistrate Court for the alleged conspiracy, forgery, burglary and stealing.
The incident happened sometime in June 2024, at House 6, G Close, 322 Road, FESTAC Town, Lagos, where the lawyer and others now at large allegedly conspired and committed the alleged offence.
According to the Police, the complainant, Helen Ekwem, suspected the Court order and wrote a petition to the Police. The Police moved into action and eventually discovered that there was no Court order to that effect. Hence, the lawyer was arrested and charged before the Court for the alleged offence.
The Police Prosecutor, Supol Idowu Osungbure, told the Court that the defendant conspired with others who are now at large, forged a court order and used it to invade and break into the apartment of the complainant, one Helen Ekwem, carted away several properties in the name of carrying out lawful execution of a judgment of the Court, which he knew to be false, illegal and unlawful.
The Prosecutor, Supol Osungbure, stated that the defendant stole a Toyota Land Cruiser Prado SUV 2020 model with number plate, NNE 749 FC, a MacBook pro Laptop valued at N2.3m, seven pairs of original suits valued at N560,000, and 15 industrial fans valued at N1,830,000.
Other items were stud earrings valued at N360,000, Hublot wristwatches valued at N700,000, a Jacobs & co perfume, Snaty, valued at N62,000, 25 pairs of shoes valued at N1m, untouched perfumes valued N124,000, Evoke perfume valued N47,000, 2000 piece of savings box valued at N200,000, two ceiling fans valued at N60,000, and sitting room central chairs valued at N750,000.
The prosecutor said the total value of what the lawyer allegedly stole was N49,592,000, property of Ekwem. Apart from that, the Prosecutor alleged the defendant of stealing the original car documents belonging to the complainant, Helen Ekwem, and the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 363, and 287, of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015.
However, he pleaded not guilty.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. Ali Balogun, granted him bail in the sum N10m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The Court also ordered that one of the sureties must be in paid employment, while the other surety must be his spouse or parent.
The matter was adjourned till 13th February, 2025, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center pending when he will perfect his bail conditions.
