Man Docked For Alleged Forgery, Impersonation

A 56 years old man, Uche Nwachukwu, has appeared before a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court for  allegedly forging tax clearance and among criminal offences.

The accused person, Uche Nwachukwu is standing trial on a three count charge bordering on forgery, false pretence and fraud before a Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court presided over by E.C. Woke.

The Prosecuting Police Officer, Sergent Adiari Idafi alleged that the accused person on the 14th of June, 2011 at the Rivers State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of the Port Harcourt magisterial district with intent to defraud did falsely represent himself to be a staff of Federal Inland Revenue by forging tax cllearance certificates for Prima Vera Villa Hotels and SPEO Nigeria Limited.

According to the prosecution, the accused person on the same date and place with intent to defraud did obtain the sum of four hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N450,000.00) from one Loveday Onwugbuta by false pretence that he was going to do a genuine tax clearance for him, adding that the accused person knew that the representation was false and untrue.

The police prosecutor further alleged that the accused with intent to defraud did forge tax clearance certificates for Prima Vera Villa Hotels and SPEO Nigeria Limited purported to be genuine, noting that the accused person committed an offence punishable under section 484,419 and 465 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 11 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

The accused person however, pleaded not guilty to all the three count charges.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, E.C. Woke granted the accused person bail to the sum of N500,000 with one surety and four passports, saying, the surety must swear affidavit of means, and later adjourned the case to 13th August , 2012 for further hearing.