PH Lawyer Docked Over Fraud

A member of the Nigerian
Bar Association (NBA), Port Harcourt Branch who is also a practising lawyer in Rivers State, Barrister Inye George, has been arraigned before a Port Harcourt Chief Magistate Court for alleged fraud and false pretence offences on charge sheet number pmc/482c/2014.
The accused person, Barr Inye George, 43, is standing trial on four court charge of fraud, false pretence, forgery of signature and alteration of figures before Chief Magistrate Emmanuel .C. Woke of Chief Magistrate Court I.
The accused pleaded not guilty on count 2,3 and 4 when the charge was read to him by the court registrar but was not allowed to take plea on count I on the grounds that the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the charge.
The police prosecution, Insp Edward Ojiezele told the court that the accused person within the period of September 2009 to January, 2010 at No 79 Aba Road, Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Magisterial District by false pretence and with intent to defraud obtained the sum of one million three hundred and fifty thousand naira (1,350,000.00) from D Stephens Industries Ltd, to perfect up stamping of records at CAC and Perfecting of post incorporation processes at Corporate Affairs Commission, a representation he knew was false and did not believe to be true.
The police prosecutor also told the court that the accused person on 12th October 2012 at No 79 Aba Road Port Harcourt, within Port Harcourt Magisterial District made a false Corporate Affairs Commission from CAC 7 document with intent that Dr Stephen D. Georgewill, Managing Chairman/CEO D Stephens industries Ltd, will act upon it as genuine Corporate Affairs commission lost incorporated document.
The prosecutor further alleged that the accused person on or about the 12th October, 2012 at No 79 Aba Road, Port Harcourt did forge the signature of Dr Stephen Georgewill to CAC, adding the accused altered the date on D Stephen Georgewill letter to CAC.
The prosecution alleged that the accused person committed an offence contrary to section I (1) (a) under section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006 and section 467,(2) (i) of the criminal code cap 37 vol.ll laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.
Counsel to the accused and the BAR, Bar Wilcox urged the court to grant the accused bail adding that the court has the jurisdiction to try the matter since it the accused has taken plea on court 2-4.
Defense counsel opined that the police framed up the court I in the charge with the view to cage the accused and urged the court to grant the accused bail on self recognition.
However, the persecution did not opposed the bail application as sought by the defense counsel but only objected the condition on self recognition.
Ruling on the matter, the presiding Chief Magistrate E.C. Woke admitted the accused to bail for the sum of N1m, with one surety and two passport, which must not be a lawyer even as he ordered the prosecutor to sent the file to DPP to advice. The case was later adjourned to 2/5/2014.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Tunde Ogunsakin (3rd left), with members of Crime/Judiciary Correspondents during a visit to the Commissioner in Port Harcourt, recently.