Nigeria charges five civil servants with forgery

The prosecutor told the court that the accused, between 2011 and 2013, conspired and produced appointment letters into the civil service.

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on Thursday arraigned five civil servants in an FCT High Court for allegedly forging letters of appointment into the Federal Civil Service.

Those arraigned are Musa Murtax, Joseph Amawhe, Emeuryde Oghenekaro, Ezema Obiora, and Marcillina Eke.

They are arraigned on five counts bordering on forgery.

The prosecutor, Elisabeth Alabi, told the court that the accused, between 2011 and 2013, conspired and produced appointment letters into the civil service.

She alleged that they altered circular No. HCSF/CMO/867/1/129, page 3 of the Head of Civil Service of Federation deployment letter, and included the name of the second accused (Joseph) and Eke (the fifth accused).

The prosecution alleged that it was done with intention to present the fake letter as genuine so that the two could benefit from deployment benefits.

The prosecutor said the offence was contrary to the provisions of section 97 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 364 of the law.

If convicted, they could serve 14 years in prison each, with fine or both.

They pleaded not guilty after the charges were read to them.

The counsel to the accused, Peter Limo, prayed the court to grant them bail on liberal grounds.

Mr. Limo said that they were currently on administrative bail and urged the court to allow them to continue.

He said that the accused had deposited their international passports and also reported to the prosecutor’s office twice weekly.

Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf granted the accused counsel’s prayers.

Mr. Baba-Yusuf ordered that the administrative bail continue until May 16 for continuation of hearing.

(NAN)