Former Action Alliance chairman, three others arraigned for forgery

Former National Chairman of the Action Alliance Party, Kenneth Udeze, and three others were re-arraigned by the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 11, on Tuesday for alleged forgery.

The defendants, Kenneth Udeze (46), Ogunmodede Adeloye (57), Vernimbe James (42) and Adepoju Timothy Adetunji (49) are standing trial before a Magistrate Coirt in Osogbo on alleged forgery of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) documents.

When the case mentioned in court, the prosecutor, Mr. James Famuyini, prayed the court for substitution and consolidation of the charge against the defendants.

According to the charge sheet: “Sometimes in July 2018 in Osogbo, within the Osogbo Magisterial District, you did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit forgery/uttering/making false statements to public officers and thereby committed offence contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state,

“That you Adepoju Timothy Adetunji on the 20th day of July, 2018 at the High Court of Justice, Osogbo, did make false statement that you were elected as the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance to the officers of the Osun State High Court and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 125(a) and (b) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state, 2002.

“That you Ogunmodede Adeloye on the 23th day of July, 2018 at High Court of justice, Osogbo, did make false statement that you were elected as Governorship candidate of Action Alliance Party to the officers of Osun state high court and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 125(a) and (b) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state, 2002.

“That you Kenneth Obidiche Udeze and Ogunmodede Adeloye, Vernimbe James, Adepoju Timothy Adetunji, on the same date and at the aforementioned area, did forged INEC document and seal and present same as genuine without lawful authority from the INEC during the gubernatorial primary election of Action Alliance in Osun and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 468 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11 law of Osun state, 2002.”

The prosecutor further alleged that the defendants “did fraudulently utter INEC document and present same as original to INEC during the gubernatorial election and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 468 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, law of Osun state, 2002.”

Taking their plea, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the five count amended charges.

The defence counsel, Mr. W. O. Wemimo, urged the court to allow his clients to continue with the earlier bail granted them by the court, saying they have not jumped the bail granted them.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Magistrate Olugbenga Oladoke, ordered that the defendants should continue with their bail and adjourned the case till March 4 for hearing.