Forgery

Kano court remands Chinese woman over forgery, property damage

By Uzair Adam

A High Court in Kano State on Tuesday ordered the remand of Zhang Qunfang, a Chinese national, in a correctional facility over allegations of forgery and destruction of property belonging to Huafei International Nigeria Ltd., located at No. 52 Hadejia Road, Gezawa District Area, Kano.

During the arraignment before Justice Ma’aji, prosecution counsel Eristio Asaph from the Force Headquarters legal department presented a charge filed on October 3, 2024, requesting the court’s approval to read the charges to the defendant.

However, defense counsel Ibrahim Abdullahi Chedi opposed the reading, contending that the case was not ready for arraignment as Qunfang had only received the charges that day.

He noted that Qunfang, arrested by INTERPOL in Abuja, had been granted administrative bail and argued that, according to Section 127 Sub 2 of the ACJL 2019, the defendant should be served seven days prior.

The prosecution responded that the defendant had refused to accept the charge sheet post-release on bail. After reviewing both sides, Justice Ma’aji granted permission to proceed with reading the two-count charge.

According to the charge, Qunfang allegedly forged the signature of Mr. Zhu Bin, a company client, to add her name as a signatory and used her access to withdraw $80,000 from the company’s account without approval from other directors.

Additionally, she is accused of intentionally demolishing a building owned by Huafei International Nigeria Ltd.

The prosecution asserted that these acts violate sections of the Penal Code Law. Qunfang pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The court adjourned the session to November 1, 2024, to address the defense’s bail application and ordered her remand in custody pending the hearing.

Four Nigerians jailed in the UK for forging certificates

By Uzair Adam

Four Nigerians have been sentenced to a combined total of 13 years in prison in the UK for their involvement in forging over 2,000 marriage certificates, which allowed people to live in the UK illegally.

Abraham Alade Olarotimi Onifade, Abayomi Aderinsoye Shodipo, Nosimot Mojisola Gbadamosi, and Adekunle Kabir were found guilty after a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Tuesday.

The individuals were accused of making fraudulent EU Settlement Scheme applications between March 2019 and May 2023.

They provided false Nigerian Customary Marriage Certificates and other fraudulent documents to help Nigerian nationals remain in the UK.

An investigation by Home Office Criminal and Financial Investigators, in collaboration with Home Office International Operations based in Lagos, uncovered over 2,000 forged marriage documents.

Paul Moran, Chief Immigration Officer at the Home Office, emphasized the group’s significant abuse of UK immigration laws, noting their sole motive was financial gain.

Onifade and Shodipo were both convicted of conspiracy to facilitate illegal immigration and conspiracy to provide articles used in fraud.

Kabir was found guilty of possessing an identity document with improper intention but acquitted of obtaining leave to remain by deception.

Gbadamosi was convicted of obtaining leave to remain by deception and fraud by false representation.

Moran stated that the convictions serve as a warning to other gangs exploiting vulnerable individuals for financial gain and reiterated the UK’s commitment to securing its borders and stopping such illegal activities.