‘N10bn fraud’: Police rearraign businessman for ‘forging late father’s signature’

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has re-arraigned Paul Ozigbo, a businessman, over charges bordering on alleged forgery, criminal conspiracy and illegal conversion of properties.

The re-arraignment, which held on Wednesday before a federal high court in Abuja, was sequel to the transfer of Okon Abang, former presiding judge, to another division.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/239/2020,  the police accused Ozigbo of forging Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents, conversion of family properties into personal use, among other allegations.

The businessman allegedly forged the signature of Hillary Ozigbu, his late father, and used the same to effect the change of directors of a company known as Ozigbu Engineering Company Limited.

He was also accused of conspiring with others at large to obtain various sums of money totalling N10.4 billion with fraudulent documents.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Abang had admitted Ozigbo to bail in the sum of N20 million, with one surety in like sum.

As part of the conditions for bail, the surety must be resident in the federal capital territory (FCT) and must own a landed property in the FCT.

At the court session on Wednesday, the businessman was arraigned before Donatus Okorowo, another judge.

Hope Ejiofor, counsel to the businessman, urged the court to allow his client enjoy the previous bail conditions earlier perfected.

I. Nwadike, prosecution counsel, did not oppose the application.

The court fixed October 18 for trial to commence.