Forgery: Royal Father Gets Jail Sentence

The traditional ruler of Oginigba Community in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State and chairman of Tony and Anthony Nigerian Limited, Chief Tony Micah has been asked to pay a fine of N5,000 or sentenced to six months imprisonment.

Chief Micah 50, was arranged and tried on a six-count charge of forgery, fraud, obtaining by false pretence (419), conspiracy and stealing among others before a Port Harcourt Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate B. G. Macfailine.

Sentencing Chief Micah, the trial magistrate Macfailine, however, upheld the argument of the defence counsel Barrister Bello and struck out five out of the six count charges against the convict.

But the court ordered that Chief Tony Micah be jailed for six months or pay a fine of N5,000.

Earlier, the defence lawyer, Barrister Bello had urged that the convict cannot be charged on multiple charges and prayed the court to strike the charges against his client.

To escape going to jail, the convict, through his counsel, immediately paid N5,000 option of fine via a PHB bank receipt No. 3015144 dated July 1, 2011.