Alleged Forgery: AGF Assumes Prosecution as Court Remands Female Developer

By our Reporter

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice , 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 property under false pretence.

Justice Musa Liman ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Suleja Correctional Centre pending the ruling on her bail application, which was adjourned to December 1, 2025.

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

After the charges were read, the defendant pleaded not guilty to all the counts. Following her plea, the prosecution requested a date for trial.

Defence counsel, Joel Okoli, informed the court of an existing bail application and proceeded to move the application, urging the court to grant bail on the grounds that the alleged offences are ordinarily bailable. He cited constitutional provisions regarding bail pending trial and noted that the defendant had earlier been granted administrative bail by the prosecution.

In response, the prosecution counsel urged the court to deny the application, arguing that the defendant posed a risk of jumping bail and interfering with the trial. She asked the court to consider the counter-affidavit deposed to by Michael Akawo, a litigation officer from the DPP, filed on November 18, 2025, and to exercise its discretion against granting bail.

After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Liman reserved ruling until December 1, 2025, and ordered that the defendant remain in custody at the Suleja Correctional Centre.

Speaking after the proceedings, Jerry Edemeka, who appeared as counsel watching the brief for the nominal complainant (Ideal Grace Consulting Ltd), expressed satisfaction with the court’s conduct and confidence in the judicial process.

One of the charges against the defendant reads: That you, Uzoamaka Onukwubiri “F” 42 years, the Managing Director of Sow Real Estate Nigeria Ltd (a 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) 2004, and punishable under Section 1(2)(c) of the same Act.