Appendix B on the face of it are two original certificates of occupancy
both with No. 77/77/73 dated 7th August 2001 in respect of property
described as Plot 10, Block VI Federal Government Layout at Gwarimpa
FCT, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Abuja. Both of them on the face of it
are signed by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing. The two
documents were sent to the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban
Development, the issuing authority for verification. The Ministry carried out
a detailed investigation and verification exercise on the documents. They
came out with their report which was tendered and admitted in evidence
as Exhibit 1. It is stated clearly in Exhibit 1 that Appendix A given to
Lead British International School is Authentic while Appendix B given to
Amasi Okon is not. The two documents cover the same property. I find
the evidence of P.W.1 and P.W.3 on the genuinety or otherwise of the
two documents, Appendix A and Appendix B credible. Exhibit 1 which is
the report of the issuing authority of the certificate of occupancy is not
challenged in any way. I find it sufficient proof that Appendix B was
forged. The prosecution has proved that a Federal Government Certificate
of Occupancy with No. 77/77/73 is forged and I so hold.
The next ingredient to be proved to sustain Count 2 of the charge
is that the defendant forged the Certificate of Occupancy in question.
The evidence of the prosecution as given by P.W. 2 and P.W.3 is
that the piece of land in question is located at Plot 10, Block VI and
covered by a Certificate of Occupancy with No. 77/77/73. P.W.2’s evidence
is that the land was originally owned by the defendant who sold it to one
Dyna Ladejj Investment Ltd. who in turn sold same to Lead British
International School. He tendered Exhibits 3 and 4. Exhibit 3 is a Deed of
Assignment executed between Dyna Ladejj Investment Ltd and Lead British
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