BY LEVI JOHNSON
Smart Agbonlahor, a legitimate practitioner, 65, and one Uwangue Osaigbov, 55, were on yesterday charged before Ogbeson Chief Magistrate Court in Benin-city, Edo State.
Both were arraigned in court for allegedly forging the document of the Oba of Benin for land approval they were also charged with bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
Sergeant Kehinde Iyawe, the police prosecutor, said the defendants were charged in case number: MOGB/103c/2021 on July 19, 2021, on the Benin-Auchi road, Aduwawa, within the Oregbeni magisterial district, for purportedly forging an approval by the then Oba Akenzua II dated April 15, 1966, for land measuring 100feet by 200feet with beacon No N35/B, 46/B, 54/B, 55/B respectively, “knowing same to be false with the intention to claim ownership of the said landed property belonging to Mr. Henry Okhuarobo,” who is the Majority Leader of the state House of Assembly.
The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 516 and 484 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the defunct Bendel State, 1976, which is now applicable in Edo State.
The defendants, through their counsel, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them and also appealed to the Chief Magistrate to grant them bail assuring him that the defendants would not skip bail.
The prosecutor didn’t oppose the bail, hence, the Chief Magistrate, Prince Mutairu Oare, admitted the accused persons to a bail of N200,000 each with one surety in like sum.
Oare also directed that the surety must deposit two recent passport photographs of himself and that of the defendants with the court, and thereafter, adjourned the case to August 23, 2021, for hearing.
