Case Against Smart Agbonlaho, Osagie Uwangue For Alleged Forgery Adjourns 13, 14 Sept., 2021

By The9JaTREND

The suit between Edo State Commissioner of Police Versus Messers Smart Agbonlaho and Osaigie Uwangue was adjourned at resumed hearing following the inability of the prosecutor to provide some documents.

At the resumed sitting at Ogbeson Magistrate Court 2, Agbor Park, Benin City when the trial magistrate called for the day’s proceedings, the Police Prosecutor Inspector, Charity Asemota, pleaded with the court for an adjournment as only the proof of evidence was ready and had been served, though not filed.

Inspector Asemota told the court that she had served the defendants proof of evident apart from the statement on oath of her witnesses in proof of the alleged of forgery

She therefore pleaded for a time  to regularize her papers and serve the statement on oath.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Mutairu Oare adjourned the matter at the instance of the prosecution to the 13th and 14th of September, 2021 for continuation of prosecution’s case.

Mr. Agbonlahor is alleged to have forged a landed document bearing the oba of Benin's approval belonging to a Europe based Nigerian as well as power of Attorney.

The said Oba's approval was the document attached to a matter filed by Mr. Smart Agbonlahor for his client who had given him the power of attorney to do so on his behalf at the High Court.

However, the complainant at the lower court moved the police to arrest and arraign the legal practitioner on allegation that the document was forged.     

Also arraigned alongside Mr. Agbonlahor was Mr. Osagie Uwangue who had offered to give evidence in the High Court  that the owner of the land for which Mr. Agbonlahor was exercising the Power of Attorney actually owned the land.

The civil action at the High Court has been on since 2017 and was being heard by the late Justice Morrison Ighodalo until his demise.

For the 2nd Defendant, his counsel, Mr. I. Eguwkun said his client was joined and charged to court because he vouched that the owner of the property was known to him for over thirty years as a neighbour.

Hearing on the matter resumes on the 13th of September, 2021 for continuation of the prosecution’s case.