Eight traders from the popular Idumota Market on Lagos Island were re-arraigned before the Lagos State High Court sitting in Igbosere over allegations of conspiracy, forgery, impersonation, and providing false information to security agencies.

The defendants Basil Odinamba, Christian Okosa, Sunday Nwanko, Jacob Ogbu, Tochukwu Okoye, Cyril Chinwendu Okafor, Cyril Uzodinma Okafor, and Akas Nicholas Ogu were brought before Justice Serifat Sonaike by operatives of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (ForceCID), Alagbon Annex, Ikoyi.

Re-arraigning the defendants on an amended charge marked LD/26586C/2025, the prosecutor, Morufu Ajani Animashaun, told the court that the accused conspired to produce and use fraudulent documents relating to the Association of Progressive Traders (APT), Idumota.

According to the prosecution, the alleged offences were committed on August 2, 2023, at the APT International Trade Fair Complex in Lagos, where the defendants and others still at large purportedly created false documents without lawful authority.

The prosecutor further alleged that the defendants prepared a forged resolution dated August 2, 2023, with intent to defraud members of the association and the public.

 They were also accused of forging and altering the association’s certificate of incorporation to replace some of its trustees.

Additionally, the defendants were said to have made false declarations before a Notary Public on February 8, 2024, by presenting one Ruth Idowu as a duly elected trustee of the association.

On the charge of impersonation, the prosecution alleged that the defendants falsely held themselves out as the Chairman and Secretary of the association despite not being validly elected into those positions.

Police further claimed that the accused knowingly used the altered certificate of incorporation as a genuine document, intending it to be relied upon by members of the public.

The alleged offences are said to contravene Sections 411, 370, 365, 370(a)(b), 380, and 115 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State, 2015.

All eight defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Counsel to the defendants, led by Ibrahim Bawa (SAN), urged the court to allow them to continue enjoying the bail earlier granted. Justice Sonaike granted the request.

Following the plea, the trial commenced immediately, with the prosecution calling its first witness.

After the witness concluded his testimony, the defence sought an adjournment to enable cross-examination.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to September 21, 2026, for continuation of trial.