Five men, accused of forging documents submitted for recruitment into the police, on Tuesday appeared in a Yaba Magistrates’ Court.
The police charged Michael Udoh, 38, Sunday Adebo, 24, Kehinde Okori, 22, Mathew David, 24, and Gasper Oladipo, 49, with 10 counts bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Police prosecutor, Sgt. Modupe Olaluwoye, told the court that the defendants committed the offence between Aug. 26 and Aug. 31, at Ikeja.
She alleged that the defendants forged West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results and National Examination Council (NECO) results.
He alleged that they also forged letters from the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, identifying them as residents and indigenes of Lagos.
The prosecutor accused the defendants of presenting the forged documents before the Adhoc screening team of the 2020 Nigeria Police Force (constable) physical and credentials screening of applicants.
She told the court that the defendants admitted in their statements that they were aware that the documents were fake but they submitted them with hopes of securing the job.
The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened the provisions of sections 411, 362 and 365 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).
Section 365 stipulates a three-year jail term for the offence of forgery, while Section 411 provides two-years for conspiracy.
Magistrate L. Y. Balogun admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1million each with two sureties in like-sum.
She ordered that the sureties must be residing within the court’s jurisdiction and be gainfully employed with evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government.
Balogun adjourned the case until Oct. 8 for mention.
NAN
