Chris Awhawha
The Chief Magistrate, Court 2, in Minna, has convicted and sentenced two persons to sixteen years imprisonment over alleged forgery.
They were convicted and sentenced on four count charges, which included criminal conspiracy, forgery, giving false evidence and using evidence knowing it to be false.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Abdullahi Mayaki DSP, he said the four count charges were punishable under section 97,161,258 and 364 of the penal code.
The two convict were the Secretary to the District Head of Guni in Muyan Local Government Area of Niger State, Ahmed Musa and a farmer Yakubu Tukura.
They were found guilty on four count charges brought against them by the operatives of Anti-Fraud Squad of the State Investigative Bureau (SIB) of the Niger State Police Command.
According to Police First Information Report (FIR) made available in Court and obtained by our reporter, revealed that Alhaji Isah Makama had complained to the Police, that during “pendency of a case between them and Yakubu Tukura of the same address involving land before a Shariah Court in Gwada.
” The said Court in the spirit of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), referred the same matter to District head Palace in Guni where settlement failed which you Ahmed Musa the Secretary to the District head conspired with you Yakubu Tukura of Zhalakpe without the consent and authority of the District head of Guni to forge a letter purportedly to Court by the District head to read that the matter has been resolved amicably in favour you Yakubu Tukura”
The Police Prosecutor further told the Court that detectives swung into action and during investigation it was revealed that the convicted persons conspired and forged a purported terms of settlement and used it to obtain judgment against the nominal complainant Isah Makama.
The trial which lasted for almost six years, the charges was amended by the Police which the Chief Magistrate Fatima Hassan Umar gave her verdict against the two convicts.
In over two hour hours judgment delivered on Friday, the Presiding Chief Magistrate, Umar held that the Police Prosecutor Abdullahi Mayaki DSP has proven the four count charges brought against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt ” and they hereby convicted accordingly”
” The four counts charges of criminal conspiracy, contrary to section 97,forgery contrary to section 258, giving false evidence, contrary to section 161 and using evidence knowing it to be false contrary to section 364 of the penal code has been established and proven beyond every reasonable doubt by the prosecutor and they are found guilty accordingly”
While passing her judgment, she sentenced the two convicts to eight years imprisonment each with an option of fine of N200,000 in addition to pay the sum of N300,000 to the nominal complainant to cushion the expenses he invited during the trial.
