Police arraign FCMB, 3 others over alleged mortgage fraud

First City Monument Bank, alongside three others were on Tuesday dragged before an Ikeja High Court in Lagos over alleged forgery and mortgage fraud.

Others arraigned alongside FCMB in the case include Okogun Polycarp, Batik Line International Limited, and Bolaji Adebajo.

The Prosecutor had filed a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, forgery, and fraudulent conversion.

According to the prosecutor, the defendants allegedly conspired and committed the offences between 2008 and 2009 in Lagos.

In the charge sheet, it was alleged that the defendants forged the signature of the complainant, one Grace Akinwusi, on several legal documents.

When the case came up for hearing before the court, Counsel from the Police Special Fraud Unit, Daniel Apochi, expressed displeasure over the absence of the defendants saying he had informed the defendants about the arraignment.

Apochi, however, requested for an adjournment to enable the court sheriff to serve the defendants formally.

Justice Ismail Ijelu, adjourned the case March 11 for the arraignment of the defendants due to their absence in court.

The legal documents allegedly forged included an authority to create a legal mortgage, a deed of assignment, an irrevocable power of attorney, and a memorandum of understanding.

It stated that the forged documents were allegedly used to fraudulently convert the complainant’s property, situated at 5B, Sasegbon Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos State, to their own personal use.

According to the charge sheet, the alleged offences violate Sections 287, 363, 365, and 411 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.(NAN)