Abuja Businesswoman In Court For Allegedly Forging Land Documents

A 47-year-old businesswoman, Jemimah Tafida, who allegedly forged and issued fake land documents to unsuspecting buyers, on Tuesday, appeared before a Gwagwalada Upper Area Court, Abuja.

The defendant, who lives in No. 1 Tafida avenue Kutunku Gwagwalada, FCT, is facing three counts of criminal breach of trust, cheating and false documents.

Naija News reports that the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge.

According to the Prosecutor, Dabo Yakubu, the complainants, Prince Ozims and Paul Emebo paid the sum of N700,000 to the defendant’s company, Lea Lois Nigeria LTD, in 2015 and 2016.

Shortly thereafter, she issued them with a letter of offer, power of attorney and C of O for the purchase of a land measuring 500 sq each, which they later discovered was fake, and reported the matter to the police on February 23, 2021.

Yakubu told the court that the offence contravened the provisions of sections 311, 320 and 362 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, the defense counsel, Mr Adakole Isaac, prayed the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms

In the bail application, Isaac cited sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), to press home his demand for bail.

He argued that the defendant was presumed innocent until proven guilty by the law.

Isaac also assured the court that the defendant would not jump bail or interfere with an investigation in the matter, if any.

The judge, Sani Umar, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N800,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Umar ruled that the sureties must reside within the FCT and have their addresses verified by the court.

He said that if the defendant defaults in meeting the bail conditions, he should be remanded in the Suleja Correctional Centre

Naija News reports that in Abuja, forgery of land documents could attract up to three years imprisonment, while conspiracy attracts a penalty of two years if convicted.

The Judge adjourned the case until September 2, 2021 for mention.