Justice Serifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, issued a Bench warrant of arrest against a defendant, Ibukun Fakaye, for his failure to appear before the court to answer charges of forgery and fraud of N100 million.
Police through the office of Inspector-General, had dragged the defendant before the court in a charge marked LD/18274c/2022, on a two-count of forgery and fraud.
Justice Sonaike issues the bench warrant of arrest against the defendant following a request made by the prosecutor in the matter, Barrister Morufu Animashaun, a Legal officer in the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID).
Animashaun told the court that the defendant, a resident of D. 16, Ekoland, Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, had consistently refused to appear before the court since the charge was filed and served on him. Adding that without an order court for the arrest of the defendant, he will never attend court to take his plea on the charges.
Justice Sonaike, after listened to the submission made by the prosecutor, ordered the issuance of a bench warrant of arrest against the defendant.
Justice Sonaike has adjourned till September 21, 2022, for the defendant’s arraignment.
The prosecutor, Animashaun, of in the charge filed against the defendant, stated that the defendant, sometimes in January this year, forged the signature of one Late Honourable S. A. Banjo, the family Head of Oguntade Royal family and the family’s letter head paper, with the intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine.
The defendant was also accused of stealing the sum of N100 million belonging to Oguntade Royal family.
The offences according to Animashaun are contrary to sections 361(1)(a) and 278(1)(b) and punishable under sections 363(3)(a) and 285(5)(a) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
