Citadel MD’s signature was forged, witness tells court

Debi Gideon, a forensic analyst, says the signature of Benjamin Joseph , managing director, Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited, was “mechanically imported” into a document used to carry out fraudulent activities.

While testifying at a high court in Jabi, Abuja, Gideon, who works with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said the document titled: “Board resolution authorizing the opening and operation of an account with Access Bank Plc,” was written on Citadel’s letter head and contained the signature of Joseph.

In October 2013, Joseph wrote a petition to the police accusing Onny Igbokwe and Princess Kama, both defendants, in the suit of conspiring with top officials of Zinox Group and two staff of the bank to hijack a N170 million contract awarded to his company by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

The petitioner said the document was forged as no such agreement was reached by the board.

Gideon, who testified as the fourth prosecution witness said he carefully examined and compared the handwritten signature of Joseph on another document after it was forwarded to him from the procurement fraud unit of the EFCC.

He said the writing “yours faithfully”, the signature and the name “Benjamin Joseph” were “forensically non genuine” because they were “mechanically imported into the disputed document via the process of scanning/ cut and paste method.”

Jude Obazuwa, the prosecution counsel, applied to tender the forensic report as evidence before the court and Danlami Senchi, the presiding judge, accepted them.

The prosecution also closed its case after the fifth prosecution witness failed to show up to give evidence.

In a letter addressed to the acting director, legal unit of the EFCC, Joseph, who would have been the fifth witness for the prosecution, said he would no longer give evidence.

According to him, the prosecution failed to produce appropriate documents needed for the case.

“In view of the foregoing and the concerns raised in this correspondence, I express my sincere reservation about the modus and the end objective of the criminal trial above referenced,” he said.

“Regrettably, I do not feel in this circumstance that it would be safe for me to testify in this case with Mr Jude Obozuwa as the prosecutor, believing that he would lead me in destroying myself in the circumstance.”

Kama and Igbokwe are facing a four-count charge bothering on forgery.

Count two of the charge reads: That you Princess O. Kama and Chief Onny S. lgbokwe sometime between April and December 2012, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did make a false Board Resolution of Citadel Oracle Concept Ltd dated the 14 December 2012, while opening an account with number 0059202675 at Access
Bank Plc, with intent to commit fraud and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 363 of the Penal Code Cap 532 LFN Abuja (1990) LFN (1990) and punishable under Section 364 of the same Act.”