Court Fixes May 11 to Commence Trial of Badagry Prince over Alleged Theft, Forgery
A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, has fixed May 11, 2018, to commence the trial of Badagry Prince, Semasa Kolade James, over allegations of theft and forgery charges preferred against him by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the Police.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, fixed the date following James’ arraignment before her last Tuesday, on a two-count charge for alleged stealing and forgery.
Prince James, who is a son of a late ruler of Kweme Kingdom, Oba Afolabi Ogungbe James, is being accused of fraudulently converting to his own use and personal benefit, the sum of N500 million, property of his late father's estate, between 2010 and 2017 in Lagos.
The Prosecutor, Mr. Sunday Ekong, said the offence was committed between 2000 and 2017.
According to Ekong, the Defendant had forged the resolution of a company called CAJ Industrial Enterprises dated November 28, 2011.
He alleged that the Defendant purported that his father, who was one of the Directors of the company, signed the resolution.
He said the forged document was purportedly signed in 2011 by the king, nine years after his demise.
The Prosecutor also alleged that Prince James forged the resolution, with the intent that it will be acted upon as genuine, to the prejudice of any person.
According to the Prosecutor, the alleged offences violate Sections 383(1), 383(2)(f), 390(9), 465 and 467 of the Criminal Code, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
One of the counts read, “That you Semasa Kolade James, in 2011 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, knowingly forged the Resolution of a company called CAJ Industrial Enterprises Limited, dated 28th November, 2011, by purporting that the said Resolution was signed by your father, as one of the directors of the company, whereas your your father died on 30th January, 2002, and you forged the said Resolution, with intent that it may in any way be used or acted upon as genuine, whether in Lagos State or elsewhere to the prejudice of any person”.
The Defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge of forgery and stealing.
Following the Defendant's plea, his counsel, Mr. Martins Oyigbo, asked the court to grant his client bail. Oyigbo argued that his client is well known and has a street named after him in the community, and that he has no previous criminal record.
He assured the court, that the Defendant will not jump bail, explaining that this was why the reigning king, Olalekan James, one of the siblings of the Defendant was in court and ready to be a surety to the Defendant.
The Prosecution led by Ekong, in a written address, opposed the bail application on the ground that the Defendant had jumped the administrative bail granted him earlier, adding