AGF Takes over Prosecution of Female Estate Developer Charged with Forgery

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has taken over the prosecution of an estate developer and Managing Director of Sow Real Estate, Miss Uzoamaka Onukwubiri, who was arraigned before a Federal High Court on a 9-count charge bordering on forgery and obtaining of property under false pretence.

Already, the defendant has been remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre by Justice Musa Liman pending the ruling on her bail application adjourned to December 1, 2025.

The prosecution counsel Ndidi Gladys Okoha, from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP), Federal Ministry of Justice, informed the court that the alleged offences are contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2004; punishable under sections 1 (2) (C) of the same Act: Section 368 of the Penal Code Act.

However, after the charges were read to her in the dock, she pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

Following the plea of not guilty by the defendant, the prosecution counsel asked for a date for trial.

The defence counsel, Joel Okoli, informed the court of a subsisting bail application on behalf of the defendant.

He then moved the application praying the court to admit the defendant bail as the alleged offences are ordinary bailable in nature.

He cited relevant sections of the constitution pertaining to bail pending trial in urging the court to admit the defendant to bail.

Okoli further prayed the court to take into consideration that the defendant was on an administrative bail by the prosecution.

The prosecution counsel urged the court to reject the same as there is a likelihood of the defendant jumping bail and interfering with the trial.

She urged the court to consider the content of the counter-affidavit deposed to by Michael Akawo, a litigation officer from the DPP, filed on November 18, 2025, against the bail application and to exercise its discretion against the defendant.

After listening to submissions of both counsel for and against the bail application, Justice Liman deferred his ruling till December 1, 2025.

The judge ordered that the defendant should be remanded in Suleja Correctional Centre pending his ruling.

Speaking after the proceedings, Jerry Edemeka who appeared as a counsel watching the brief of the nominal complainant (Ideal Grace Consulting Ltd), expressed satisfaction with the proceedings and confidence with the court.

Some of the charges against the defendant read: That you Uzoamaka Onukwubiri, the Managing Director of Sow Real Estate Nigeria LTD, (Company Incorporated Under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020) of No.7 Yedseram Street, Maitama, Abuja on or about November 29, 2019, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourself to commit felony to wit: Forgery and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act ,Cap M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act 2004 and punishable under 1(2)(c) of the same Act.

“That you Uzoamaka Onukwubiri ….on or about November 29,2019, made a Forged document titled ‘Joint Venture Agreement’ dated November 29, 2019 purportedly signed by Ideal Grace Consulting Limited (Ideal Grace) with Sow Real Estate Nigeria Limited (Sow Estate) in respect of 3 hectares of land situate at Plot 3173 Cadastral Zone B19, Katampe Extension Abuja, knowing same to be false, with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of Ideal Grace Consulting Limited (Ideal Grace) and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act ,CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2004.

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