Lawyer makes no case submission in forgery case

Bello is standing trial for allegedly forging a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for a landed property in Lekki, Lagos. He is standing trial with Chukwu Victor, Friday Palmer and Osumah Terry. They are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and forgery. According to the charge, the defendants allegedly conspired among themselves and forged a C of O with reference no. 63/63/1989, dated Sept. 28,1989. The defendants allegedly forged C of O to take over a plot of land belonging to the late Mrs Francisca Awolaja. Bello and co defendants were also accused of in personating the late Awolaja to fraudulently sell her land to one Mr Rotimi Olubeko for the sum of N5 million. Bello was expected to open his defence in the forgery case brought against him at resumed proceedings on Friday but chose to file an application asking the court to drop all the charges against him. At resumed proceedings, Bello’s counsel, Oke Akintunde (SAN), informed the court of the pending application. He said his client was asking the court to quash the charges against him as the prosecution had not been able to prove any case against him. “My Lord we have an application before the court where he filed a no case submission on the basis that the defendant does not have any case to answer before the court “ Akintunde said. Counsels to the second, third and fourth defendants also informed the court of their intention to file similar applications. The prosecution led by Ms O. A. Bamisaiye, however, informed the court that the prosecution had closed its case and was waiting for the defence to open its case. Justice Taiwo, thereafter, adjourned the matter till October 5, to hear the pending applications and to also give a ruling on the no case submission of the defendant.]]>