Alleged Forgery: Obasanjo’s in-law, John Abebe, gets bail
Justice Mojisola Dada of the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Thursday granted bail to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s in-law, John Abebe, who is charged with forgery.
Justice Dada granted Abebe bail with a surety who must be gainfully employed and own a landed property in a choice area in Lagos.
The judge said Abebe must deposit his passport in the custody of the court pending the conclusion of the case.
Abebe, a younger brother of the late former First Lady, Stella Obasanjo, was arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Abebe’s lawyer, Kanu Agabi (SAN), along with three other Senior Advocates of Nigeria, had urged the court to grant Abebe bail on liberal terms, saying that he will not jump bail.
The EFCC, in the charges, alleged that Abebe “knowingly forged” a November 30, 1995 letter written by BP Exploration Nigeria Limited to Inducon (Nigeria) Ltd.
The anti-graft agency claimed that the businessman illegally inserted into page 2 of the said letter the following words: “Also note that the ‘Buy-Out Option’ only applies to the pre-production stage of the NPIA. The $4m buy-out is thus irrelevant from production of oil in any of our fields.”
According to the EFCC, Abebe also attempted to pervert the course of justice by tendering the allegedly forged November 30, 1995 letter “as a fabricated evidence” in court, in Suit No. FHC/L/ CS/224/2010 between Dr. John Abebe, Inducon Nigeria Limited and Statoil Nigeria Limited. The EFCC accused him of making an attempt to mislead the court by using fabricated evidence, contrary to Section 120 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
The EFCC prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that by attempting to pervert the course of justice, Abebe violated Section 126 (2) of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003.
The prosecutor further alleged that forgery was a violation of Section 467 of the Criminal Code Cap C17, Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2003. He pleaded not guilty.