Alleged Forgery: trial of Chief Also resumes February 2

A Federal High Court in Lagos Tuesday adjourned till February 2 for the resumption of trial of a forgery suspect, Chief Alao Adeniran. 

Justice Muslim Hassan fixed the date for cross-examination of a police forensic analyst Mr Reginald Odunze. 

Odunze, a lecturer at the Police College, Lagos, testified as an expert witness of the Federal Ministry of Justice, which is prosecuting Adeniran. 

Adeniran is standing trial on a 15-count charge of forgery of a family resolution of the Oguntoyinbo, Abiola, Falola and Ilo families of Ipaja, fabrication of evidence with intent to mislead a court, holding of 125 acres of land belonging to the families with intent to breach the peace, among others. 

At the resumption of proceedings, Odunze was led in Evidence by a deputy director in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mrs Chioma Onuegbu.

Odunze told the court that a request was forwarded to him through Commissioner of Police Forensic Department Force CID Alagbon, Lagos to examine and compare documents marked exhibits A, B1- B2.

"This was sequel to a letter written to the Commissioner of Police by a letter dated 16th of August 2016 and attached to this letter were documents marked exhibits P4, P5 and P6 respectively 

"My Lord, my examination and comparison of the signatures on the documents revealed that the signature on Exhibits P4 are forged signatures of the signature of the document marked Exhibit P5." 

Defence counsel Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN indicated his intention to cross examine the witness. 

But Justice Hassan observed that the court's docket for the day was congested and so, adjourned till February 2, 2021 for cross-examination.