First Bank of Nigeria Limited, its managing director and three others have been charged with forgery by the federal government.
First Bank Utako Branch Manager, Abuja, one Muftau Ande, Dibiaezue Chuks, and two other lawyers are also named on the charge sheet, marked CR/266/2023 before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
In the charge sheet filed by the Federal Ministry of Justice, the five defendants were accused, among other things, of forging a “tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr. Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with intent to commit fraud.”
The defendants were also accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property using a forged tripartite legal mortgage.
The prosecution claimed that the defendants had some time in 2016, within the jurisdiction of the court, conspired to forge a tripartite legal mortgage without the consent of the proprietor of Whiteplain British School, Mr. Francis Chukwumah Nwufor, with the intent to commit fraud.
In the first count, the defendants were charged with forgery and criminal conspiracy contrary to sections 96 and 363 of the Penal Code.
Furthermore, the prosecution alleged that the defendants committed a criminal breach of trust contrary to Section 311 of the Penal Code and that they could be punished under Section 312 of the same law.
In the third count, the defendants were accused of dishonestly dispossessing Nwufor of his property while being entrusted with the tripartite legal mortgage.
Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie adjourned till May 8 for arraignment after the prosecution lawyer, Ndidi Ezinwa-Ukoha, said all the defendants had yet to be served with the charge.
In its response, the bank neither denied the allegations but rather attacked the publications as being malicious and sensational.
According to the bank in a press statement seen by Freelanews, the bank states:
Our attention has been drawn to a sponsored sensational report by some online publications on a charge brought against the Bank.
While we will not be able to offer further comments as the matter is sub-judice, suffice it to say that the basis of the charge is a spurious allegation made by a delinquent debtor with the intention of embarrassing the Bank and tainting the Bank’s loan recovery efforts and legal enforcement of its security collateral interest in accordance with the terms thereof.
We wish to assure our numerous customers, stakeholders and the general public that FirstBank operates by the highest standards of ethical conduct and will under no circumstances involve itself in any act of illegality just as it will take necessary legal steps to check any attempt by recalcitrant debtors to fritter away depositors’ funds under its custody.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
