The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Makurdi Zonal office, on Monday, November 18, 2019, arraigned one Simeon Ngutor Ngugban before Justice M. A. Ikpambese of the Benue State High Court, Makurdi on a seven count charge bordering on forgery and possession of documents containing false pretence.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Simeon Ngutor Ngugban and Desmond Bem Orshi (now at large) on or about the month of February, 2016 at Makurdi, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did agree amongst yourselves to do an illegal act to wit; make a letter headed paper captioned “LAGOS UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL LAGOS” purporting same to have been made and signed by Prof. Femi Fasanmade, the Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital, knowing same to be false and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Cap 124 (Revised Edition) Laws of Benue State, 2004″.
The 26-year-old defendant pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge when it was read to him.
In view of his plea, the prosecuting counsel, Mary Onoja, asked the court for a trial date.
However, the defense counsel, E. C. A. Hundu, prayed the court to allow him move an oral application for bail of his client.
Onoja opposed the oral bail application of the defense counsel, arguing that the court would need a formal application.
Justice Ikpambese however granted the defendant bail in the sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousand Naira), with one surety in like sum.
The surety who must be a a grade level 16 officer, must reside within the jurisdiction of the court and have a landed property .
Defendant and surety must submit a passport photograph each to the court
The defendant was remanded at the Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail condition and the case adjourned till December 5, 2019 for trial.
