Lawyer makes no case submission in forgery case

Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of the Ikeja High Court has fixed
October 5 for ruling on a ‘no case’ submission filed by a lawyer,
Kole Bello.

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.