Justice Mohammed Kutigi of the FCT High Court, Abuja on September 29, 2017 convicted one Abdulwaheed Popoola for offence bordering on forgery and obtaining by false pretence to the tune of N2million.
He was prosecuted on a 7-count charge by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

Popoola was accused of: “Forgery of Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; offer of Terms of Grant/ Conveyance of Approval of Statutory Right of Occupancy; forgery of Revenue Collector’s Receipt and forgery of Acceptance of Offer of Grant of Occupancy within the Federal Capital Territory contrary to Section 363(1) of the Penal Code Act Cap. 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and punishable under Section 364 of the same Act”.

Arraigned on April 27, 2010, Popoola pleaded not guilty to the counts and the case went into full trial.

In the course of the trial, the prosecution presented four witnesses and tendered relevant documents, which were all admitted in evidence.

While trial lasted, the defendant jumped bail twice and was employing all manner of delay tactics to frustrate proceedings until the coming into effect of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which empowers the court to go on with a criminal trial in the absence of an accused after two adjournments without reasonable explanation from the defendant.

On December 8, 2016 when the matter came up, neither the defendant nor his counsel were in court for continuation of hearing. In the circumstance, the trial judge adjourned to February 16, 2017 for definite defence and hearing.

Again, the defendant and his counsel were absent on the adjourned date. Consequently, the court ordered for the filing of final written addresses by counsel.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Kutigi convicted the defendant on all the seven counts preferred against him.

Media & Publicity
5th October, 2017