The Chief Magistrate Court 2 located on David Mark Road Tunga, Minna, has convicted and sentenced two persons to a total of sixteen years imprisonment for forgery.
They were convicted and sentenced on four count charge which included criminal conspiracy, forgery, giving false evidence and using evidence knowing it to be false.
According to the Police Prosecutor, Abdullahi Mayaki DSP, the four count charge were punishable under section 97,161,258 and 364 of the penal code.
The two convicts include the Secretary to the District Head of Guni in Muyan Local Government Area of Niger state Ahmed Musa and a farmer Yakubu Tukura.
They were found guilty on four count charge brought against them by the operatives of anti-fraud squad of the State Investigation Bureau (SIB) of the Niger state police command.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR) made available in court and obtained by our reporter, one Alhaji Isah Makama, of Zhalakpe complained to the police, that during “pendency of a case between them and Yakubu Tukura of the same address was involved in land before a Shariah Court in Gwada.
“The said court in the spirit of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), referred the same matter to District head Palace in Guni where settlement failed which you Ahmed Musa, the Secretary to the District head conspired with you, Yakubu Tukura of Zhalakpe without the consent and authority of the District head of Guni to forge a letter purportedly to court by the District head to read that the matter has been resolved amicably in favour you Yakubu Tukura”
The police Prosecutor further told the court that police detectives swung into action and during investigation it was revealed that both of you conspired and forged a purported terms of settlement and used it to obtain judgment against the nominal complainant, Isah Makama.
The trial which lasted for almost six years the charges was amended by the police which the Chief Magistrates Fatima Hassan Umar gave her verdict against the two convicts.
In over two hour judgment delivered on Friday the Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fatima Hassan Umar held that the Police Prosecutor, Abdullahi Mayaki DSP has proved the four count charge brought against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt “and they are hereby Convicted accordingly.”
“The four count charge of criminal conspiracy, contrary to section 97, forgery contrary to section 258, giving false evidence, contrary to section 161 and using evidence knowing it to be false contrary to section 364 of the penal code has been established and proved beyond every reasonable doubt by the prosecutor and they are found guilty accordingly” she averred.
While passing her judgment, Hajiya Fatima Hassan Umar sentenced the two convicts to eight years imprisonment each with an option of fine of two hundred thousand Naira in addition to pay the sum of three hundred thousand Naira to the nominal complainant to cushion the expenses he incurred during the trial.
