2 Clearing Agents Docked Over Alleged Forgery

Two clearing agents, Frank Brown and Owoyemi Sunmonu, yesterday appeared before an Apapa Senior Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with conspiracy and forgery.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Kalu Umeh, told the court that Brown, 55, and Sunmonu, 34, whose addresses were not disclosed, conspired to commit the offence at the Tin Can Island Port, Apapa, Lagos.
Umeh said the duo, had on Jan. 10, conspired and forged Alawura International Clearing and Forwarding Agency’s license to clear two Toyota Corolla cars, without the company’s authority.

Two clearing agents, Frank Brown and Owoyemi Sunmonu, yesterday appeared before an Apapa Senior Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with conspiracy and forgery.

He said the accused used the forged licence, purported to have been issued by the company, to clear the cars from the port.
The value of the cars, according to the prosecutor, could not be ascertained at the time of their arraignment.
“The company after detecting the forgery, later reported the matter to the police, which led to the arrest and subsequent arraignment of the accused,’’ Umeh said.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 363 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which stipulates three years imprisonment for forgery and two years imprisonment for conspiracy.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In his ruling, the Senior Magistrate, Mr M. O. Olubi, granted each of the accused bail in the sum of N50,000, with two sureties each in like sum.
He said that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

Olubi adjourned the case till June 2 for further hearing.