A German based Nigerian Pastor Ben Emmanuel Odigie has appeared before the Igbosere Magistrate Court in Lagos over a three count charge of land grabbing and forgery of land documents.
The 52-year-old cleric according to the Nigerian Police Force was said to have sometime in 2015 in Oregun area of Ikeja, Lagos forged a purchase receipts dated July 13, 1993, in the name of one M. O. Olota and a land purchase agreement also in Mr. Olota’s name.
The Nigerian Police had accused Pastor Odigie of committing the act with the intent that the forged documents may be acted upon and used as genuine, whether in Lagos or elsewhere, to the prejudice of the Eshilokun Family of Oregun and other persons who were induced to act or refrain from doing any act in the belief that the documents were genuine.
The police said Odigie, who on the same date and place, fraudulently used the forged purchase receipts and the undated land purchase agreement, also act in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by entering a land which is in actual and peaceful possession of the Eshilokun family.
According to the police, the alleged offense is contrary to and punishable under sections 52 and 356 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
