Court Convicts Escapee Ex-Lawmaker, Nzeribe For Forgery

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday convicted a former House of Representatives member, Chief Chuma Nzeribe for forgery.

Delivering the judgment, the presiding Judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu held that the prosecution proved its case beyond any reasonable doubt, saying; ”I hereby convict the said Chuma Nzeribe having found him guilty as charged.”

Justice Halilu said; “From the abundant evidence before me, it has been established that the defendant forged the title documents to the said land 1306 Maitama which rightfully now belongs to Ishaya Baba.

”By the powers conferred in me, therefore, pursuant to section 11 of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Act, 78 of penal code, 321 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 which dwelt on the issue of restitution. I hereby so restitute to the said landowner to take his land forthwith without any delay since is the rightful owner.

”With respect to the issue of sentencing, I shall defer the sentence of the said convict to a day in this life when I am sure the long arms of the law will catch up with him.

“Then, the EFCC, IGP will arrest him and bring him before me for me to be able to do the needful by sentencing him accordingly. In the main time, sentencing in this situation is thereby deferred” he held.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Nzeribe on a four-count charge of false pretence, impersonation, forgery, and cheating, alleging that the lawmaker forged the documents of Plot 1306, Cadastral Zone, Maitama District belonging to Ishaya Baba.

The Commission had alleged that the defendant was in possession of the statutory right of occupancy bearing the name of Ramatu Alhassan with reference Number MFCT/LA/FCT 1302 dated 18/06/03, noting that this is contrary to Section 6, 8(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud-related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

Similarly, the anti-graft agency alleged that being a false document is contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) and punishable under Section 364 of the same Act.

Furthermore, the EFCC alleged that the defendant also cheated by impersonation, representing himself to Alhassan, adding that the crime was contrary to Section 321 of the Penal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (Abuja) 1990 and punishable under section 324 of the same Act. – NAN