Court discharges former Air Peace manager of forgery, stealing
09 March 2022 |
3:15 am
A Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba has discharged a former Duty Manager of Air Peace, Shola Ogunwuyi, of forgery and stealing charges preferred against him by the police.
A Lagos Magistrate Court sitting in Ogba has discharged a former Duty Manager of Air Peace, Shola Ogunwuyi, of forgery and stealing charges preferred against him by the police.
Magistrate Oluwatosin Fogbohun in her ruling on a ‘no case submission’, held that no evidence was laid by the prosecution to support that the seal or mark was forged.
“No document or material was adduced to have been forged by the defendant,” the court ruled. Ogunwuyi was arraigned by the police on a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, forging of seal or mark, stealing by conversion and unauthorised modification of computer data on May 22, 2019.
But she pleaded not guilty to all counts. The police alleged that her offence was as contrary to section 411, 363(2), 280(1)(b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
During trial, the prosecution called two witnesses; the Human Resources Manager for the nominal complainant (Air Peace) and the Investigative Police Officer (Bello Atiku) as prosecution witness two.
However, the IPO gave evidence for the prosecution but stopped going to court, thereby denying the defence counsel right to cross examine him.
The defendant lawyer therefore, filed a no case application. While ruling on a ‘no case submission’ of the defendant, the court held that, “It will therefore be proper that this court discountenance the evidence of PW2 (IPO).”
The Magistrate held that, “at the close of the prosecution’s case, counsel to the defendant filed a ‘No Case Submission’, while the prosecution, on the other hand, failed to react to the process.”
The court held that there was no prima facie case established against the defendant to warrant the defendant opening her defence.
After plethora of authorities, Magistrate Fagbohun ruled: “It is my well considered view that the evidence of the only witness of the prosecution, PW1 is so manifestly unreliable that no court or tribunal could safely convict on it as no prima facie case has been established against the defendant, which would have been sufficient to justify proceeding further with the trial against the defendant.
“I therefore uphold the no case submission of the defendant. Consequently, the defendant is accordingly discharged.”
Related
NOW
Ministers of Agriculture across Africa have raised concern over the frightening level of hunger across the continent in the past two years.
2 mins ago
The delectable songstress, composer and actor, Simisola Bolatito Kosoko, popularly known by her stage name, Simi, will this weekend feature on African Voices Changemakers, CNN magazine programme sponsored by telecommunications company, Globacom.
3 mins ago
Failure by the Federal Government to fill the vacant position of Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is causing disquiet.
5 mins ago
This year’s Amaseikumor festival pulled eminent personalities and ministers to the riverine Oporoza Community, in Delta State, the home town of former Niger Delta agitator, Government Ekpemukpolo, popularly known as Tompolo.
9 mins ago
The Federal Government has pledged to improve and change the trajectory of the health sector by encouraging local manufacturing of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, including vaccines in Nigeria.
12 mins ago
To arrest infrastructural failures, experts in the built environment have advocated stricter measures to control engineering practice and punishment for professionals who fail to adhere to the rules.
13 mins ago
Ahead of the 2027 General Elections, Nigerians, yesterday, intensified calls for the amendment of the country’s electoral laws to ensure all court cases were resolved before winners were sworn in.
13 mins ago
Media practitioners, including independent social media buffs, have been charged to verify any story before publishing or sharing to avoid spreading fake news.
15 mins ago
In recognition of recent gains made in the fight against oil theft in the country, the National Probity and Value for Nation Building Organisation (NPVNBO) has lauded Tantita Pipeline Surveillance and Security Company for its role in complementing the military’s effort to secure the country’s critical assets.
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.