A Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo in Ibadan, Oyo State, has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old man, Oluwasegun Taiwo, in a correctional centre for allegedly forging documents and stealing N1,386,200 belonging to a microfinance firm, Absolute Grace Limited.

The court’s President, O.E. Owoseni, ordered the remand following the defendant’s inability to fulfill the bail conditions granted him by the court after pleading not guilty to the charges preferred against him by the police.

Ms Owoseni had admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000, with two reliable sureties in like sum, adding that they must be his relatives.

She said that the sureties must also possess landed property, valid identification card as well as National Identity Number (NIN).

The court’s president, thereafter, adjourned the suit until September 18 for hearing.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Inspector Ayodele Ayeni, told the court that the defendant committed the offences on January 15, March 16, March 20, May 6 and June 6 respectively on the premises of Absolute Grace Limited, Bodija, Ibadan.

Ayeni further stated that Taiwo fraudulently obtained a total cash of N1,386,200 from Absolute Grace Limited, using the forged signatures and pictures of Olajire Taiwo, Jamiu Tijani, Wasiu Wahab and Afeez Oladepo.

He said that the defendant was a specialist in cloning and editing his victims’ signatures and pictures using a particular computer application to perpetuate crime.

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene the provisions of sections 516, 390(9) and 467 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

(NAN)