Lawyer docked over alleged forgery, theft in Warri

Warri-based legal practitioner, Akpata Reuben has been arraigned before a Warri South Chief Magistrate Court over alleged forgery and theft.The accused was docked on Wednesday before Chief Magistrate (special grade) E.N Sohwo.He is being tried on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, theft and fraud.The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to him on a charged sheet number: MW/209/2022.The prosecuting counsel, Superintendent of Police (SP), Sunday Irabor told the court that the accused, others now at large committed the crime between August and October 2021 at the Warri/Sapele Road in Warri Magisterial District.Irabor alleged that the accused forged the "family resolution" of late Mr Inor Elifus and listed some persons to administer the estate of the deceased.He also alleged that the accused fraudulently withdrew a sum of N1,400,000:00 from the account of late Mr Elifus.The prosecuting counsel told the court that the accused presented himself as brother of late Mr Elifus and deposed to an affidavit in support of his motion on notice dated August 3, 2021.Irabor alleged further that the accused obtained the certificate of death of late Mr Elifus from the National Population Commission on August 23, 2021 to enable him to withdraw the sum of N1,400,000:00 from the deceased's account.He said that the offences were punishable under Section 516, 467(1)(f), 390(a) and 484 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C21 Vol. 1 Laws of Delta State of Nigeria, 2006.Chief Magistrate Sohwo, however, granted the accused bail and adjourned the case till January 10, 2023 for hearing.