New Judge Assigned To Handle 9-Year Old Criminal Case

A new judge handling the trial of three accused persons, Anthony Alintah, Emmanuel Omaghomi and Smeon Ndubuisi accused of forgery and conspiracy, has acceded to the request of the prosecutor to adopt the evidence of the first prosecution witness given before the former judge in charge of the case.

The first prosecution witness, Deputy Superintendent of Police Adetunji Samuel, had already testified and also been cross examined before the former judge.

The criminal case, which was partly heard, has lasted for nine years, having been commenced in 2003, due to series of interlocutory applications and appeals at the Court of Appeal.

The case was initially assigned to Justice Mohammed Sanni, who has been transferred to another jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, consequent upon which it was re-assigned to Justice Okon Abang.

In a four-count criminal charge number FHC/L/230C/2003 filed before the court on 26 November, 2003 by a senior legal officer from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, it was alleged that Anthony Alintah, Emmanuel Omaghomi and Simeon Ndubuisi, on or about 3 June, 2002 in Lagos, with intent that it might be acted upon as genuine, did conspire together to forge document to wit: littering the register of directors of a company, Trade-Afrik Limited, at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, by removing the names of Mr. Esom Alintah (deceased), Mr. Nnbugwu Ujah and Mr. Felix Alintah and appointed themselves as directors of the aforesaid company and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 10 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act Cap 410 of the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990 as amended by Act number 62 of 1990 and punishable under Section 3 (2) of the same act as amended.

In count two of the criminal charge, Anthony Alintah and Emmanuel Omaghomi, on or about 3 April, 2002 in Lagos, were alleged to have conspired together to make a forged document to wit, uttering the register of directors of a company, Agro and Hydro Tech Limited, at the Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, by removing the names of Mr. Esom Alintah (deceased) and Mr. Ubadiwe Alintah and appointed themselves as directors of the aforesaid company, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act.

The presiding judge, Justice Okon Abang, has adjourned till next week for continuation of trial.