Nkemjika Ibe, 40, has been arraigned before a Magistrate Court situated in Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State for allegedly conspiring with two others now at large to forge title documents with the intent to convert and claim her brother In-law’s property worth One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000).
The said property located at Plot 1 Block C1, Federal Site and Federal Service, Scheme 1, Isheri Olofin, Lagos State belongs to Samuel Ude, who is resident abroad.
Findings by Primetime Reporters indicated that One Ms Blessing Ude who is the former wife of Mr. Samuel Ude conspired with her sisters, Chidimma Obike and Nkemjika Ibe and stole the title documents of the property belonging to Samuel Ude.
Mr. Samuel Ude, on getting the wind of it, reported the matter, through his Counsel, Global Advocate Chambers, to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, Lagos State demanding for the title documents of his house and cash generated from the sale of all five cars he shipped to Nigeria for Mrs. Chidinma Obike valued for Eight million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira,(8,500,000.00) and the four plots of land she bought for him at Agbara for Two Million Naira (2.000,000.00).
Our findings further revealed that Chidinma who happened to be his (Samuel Ude) sister-in-law, was invited for an interview at SCID Panti, Lagos, where she made a confessional statement claiming that Blessing Ibe (her elder sister) who resides in Canada was the person that instructed her to steal the documents and change them to her (Blessing’s) name.
It was gathered that she pleaded at the SCID to be given some time to provide the documents from where Blessing Ude asked her to keep them. However, rather than producing the documents as she promised, she, in agreement with her sisters, filed a counter petition against the Police and Mr. Samuel Ude which prompted the transfer of the case file to the Police Special Fraud Unit, PSFU, Ikoyi, Lagos State.
Mr. Samuel Ude, through his Counsel, thereafter, filed a suit at the Magistrate Court 13, Ogba, Ikeja presided over by Mrs. T.R.A Olawale where the Court entered judgment in his favour and the Court’s Sheriffs were detailed to execute the Court judgment and thereafter, locked up the premises and handed over the keys to Mr. Samuel Ude through his Counsel, Global Advocate Chambers.
Satisfied with the judgment, Mr. Samuel Ude acquired a lot of household properties worth approximately Eight Million Naira (N8,000,000) and parked them in the flat for his personal use.
However, on the 13th of June, 2022 at about 13.30hrs, it was gathered that Chidimma Obike and Nkemjika Ibe mobilized some armed thugs bearing dangerous weapons to the said property, forced the entrance door open and carted away valuable belongings of Mr. Samuel Ude. This medium reports that a lot of unknown phone numbers had been calling Mr. Ude, threatening to kill with him and all the members of his family.
Meanwhile, Mr. Samuel Ude, in his frantic efforts to recover his property, petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly on the matter and the House referred the matter to the House Committee On Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petition to investigate the matter. Accordingly, the House Committee invited Ms Blessing via a letter dated 3rd July, 2024 and signed by O. B Onafeko, Clerk of the House to a meeting scheduled for 9th July, 2024 at the Chambers Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Assembly Complex, Alausa Ikeja at 10.00am.
The House Committee requested her to come along with her siblings, Chidimma Obike and Nkemjika Ibe as well as relevant document (s) that would facilitate fruitful deliberations at the meeting. However, they failed to show up at the meeting.
The matter was then reported to the Commissioner of Police, Conflict Resolution in Ikeja and Nkemjika Ibe was arrested and detained at the Command for interrogation over her alleged conduct while Ms the duo of Ms Blessing and Ms Chidimma Obike were at large. After interrogation, the Police found her culpable and consequently charged her before the Ogba Magistrate Court for the alleged offence.
A 5 count charge was brought up against her as follows: “That you, Ibe Nkemjika and others now at large on the 20th day of April, 2024 at about 1000hrs at Plot 1 Block C1, Federal Site and Federal Service, Scheme 1, Isheri Olofin, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: House Breaking, Stealing and Forgery and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you, Ibe Nkemjika and others now at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did Break and Enter into the house and premises of one Samuel Ude ‘m’ of Plot 1 Block C1, Federal Site and Federal Service, Scheme 1, Isheri Olofin, Lagos State, with intent to commit felony and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 307(a) and (b) and (c) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you, Ibe Nkemjika ‘f’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did Forge the original House Documents of one Samuel Ude ‘m’ to Blessing Ude ‘f in a plan to take over possession of the property valued One Hundred Million Naira (N100,000,000.00) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 363(a) and (b) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
“That you, Ibe Nkemjika ‘f’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District ,did Steal one LG flat TV 65 inches valued Two Million Naira (N2,000,000.00) property of one Samuel Ude ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable unde Section 280(a) and (b) of Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
“That you, Ibe Nkemjika ‘f’ and others now at large on the sam date, time and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District, did Steal th 45inches LG flat TV One Million Five Hundred Thousand N (N1,500,000.00) property of one Samuel Ude ‘m’ and thereby committed offence punishable under Section 280(a) and (b) of Criminal Law of La State 2015.”
After the charges were read to her, she pleaded not guilty of the offences as charged forcing the prosecutor, Superintendent of Police, Evelyn to ask for a date for substantive hearing of the matter to enable the Police to prove that she actually committed the offence as alleged.
The Court presided over by Mr. M.A. Adegbaye granted her bail in the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment whose addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned till 29th August, 2024, for mention while the defendant was remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when she will perfect her bail conditions.
Photo: Ms Nkemjika Ibe.
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