In Aba South Local Government Area of Abia State, four commercial computer centre operators have been remanded in the Nigeria Correctional Service facility by a Chief Magistrates’ Court 1. The accused individuals faced charges of conspiracy, impersonation, and forgery of a Power of Attorney. It was alleged that they engaged in illicit activities by preparing illegal documents using stolen letterheads and the names of lawyers, both living and deceased.
The defendants were accused of presenting themselves as licensed surveyors and legal practitioners, forging numerous Power of Attorney documents with fraudulent details. The prosecution highlighted the violations of specific sections of the Criminal Code of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.
Despite pleading not guilty, the court ordered the defendants to be remanded in custody pending further proceedings. The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Aba branch, expressed concerns over the case and emphasized the need to prosecute individuals involved in such activities. Measures, including the formation of a committee to monitor illegal practices, were announced to combat the issue.
The public was advised to avoid patronizing unauthorized individuals for legal document preparation, as the quality and authenticity of such documents could be compromised. The legal community is taking steps to address and eliminate fraudulent practices in document preparation.