A Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Igbosere has arraigned a Lebanese identified as Rami El Masri, who allegedly forged a letter of Nigerian citizenship and parading himself as a Nigerian.
The 42-year-old man was arraigned on Thursday on three counts bordering on conspiracy, forgery and uttering of documents.
The accused, who owns two construction companies along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, allegedly forged the citizenship confirmation letter with reference number MIA/NAT 382/1 and falsely and fraudulently feigned to be a Nigerian citizen by birth.
The police prosecutor, Susan Ezema told the court that ‘the act is punishable under Sections 363 (3)(4)(O), 409 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.’
According to the prosecutor, the accused and others, who are still at large, committed the offences between December 15, 2008 and November 19, 2014.
Ezema said, ‘Masri knowingly and fraudulently uttered the aforesaid false letter of confirmation as if it was genuine by presenting same to CSP Martin Nwogoh, a police officer attached to the Police Special Fraud Unit, Lagos office.”
Masri, however, pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A. O. Sholadoye subsequently admitted a N200, 000 bail to the accused with two sureties in like sum.
The case was adjourned till April 20.
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