The Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, has arrested a 42-year-old Lebanese man, Rami El Masri, for alleged forgery and attempting to deceive a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) that he was a Nigerian citizen.
El Masri, who it was learnt, owns two construction companies on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, is accused of forging a confirmation letter representing himself as a Nigerian citizen by birth.
He was arraigned yesterday before Mrs. Joy Ugbomiko of Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Igbosere, on a three-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and uttering.
Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Susan Ezema told the court that Masri committed the alleged offences on December 15, 2008 and November 19, 2014, at No. 6, Oniru Street, Apapa, and No. 13, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
She alleged that the defendant and others still at large conspired and forged a Letter of Confirmation of Nigerian citizenship with Reference No. MIA/NAT 382/1 dated December 15, 2008.
Ezema said: “The letter was forged on December 15, 2008 and the defendant fraudulently presented himself as a Nigerian citizen, a representation he knew to be false, with intent that it be acted upon as genuine in Nigeria.
“On November 19, 2014, at the Police Special Fraud Unit at No. 13, Milverton Road, Ikoyi, the defendant knowingly and fraudulently uttered the aforesaid false letter of confirmation as if it is genuine to Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Martin Nwogoh, as if it was a genuine document”.
According to the prosecutor, the defendant presented the letter to CSP Nwogoh, who is attached to the Special Fraud Unit, with the intention that it be acted upon as genuine in Nigeria.
The offences, she added, contravened Sections 363 (3), 363 (4) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The defendant denied the charge.
Magistrate Ugbomiko granted him bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties each in the like sum. Both sureties must be gainfully employed and be company directors or have property anywhere in Lagos State, while their addresses and places of business must also be verified.
The case was adjourned till June 16 for mention. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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He would walk a freeman, is it not nigeria
ReplyDeleteThis is not Jonathan's administration pls, Nigeria is changing for the better
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