A 42-year-old Lebanese National identified as Rami El Masri who allegedly forged a letter of confirmation of Nigeria Citizenship with Ref. No MIA/NAT 382 was today arraigned before the Lagos Magistrates Court sitting at Igbosere.
The Lebanese National is faced with a three count charge bordering on conspiracy, forgery and uttering against him by the police.
DSP Susan Ezema, the prosecutor told the court that Masri who owns two construction companies on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway along with others who are yet to be nabbed committed the offence between December 15, 2008 and November 19, 2014.
She further told the court that the accused forged the letter of Confirmation of the Nigerian Citizenship with Ref: No MIA/NAT382/1 on December 15, 2008 at No. 6 Oniru Street, in Apapa area of Lagos state.
She maintained that the accused, Masri, knew the document were fake and proceeded to act on it thereby presenting himself as a Nigerian by birth.
Further in the case, Ezema told the court that on November 19, 2014, El Masri presented the forged documents at the Police Special Fraud Unit located at 13 Milveton Road Ikoyi, Lagos to CSP Martin Nwogoh, under pretense that it was original.
The prosecution counsel noted that the offence of the accused is punishable under Sections 363 (3), 363 (4) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
Pleading to the charges leveled against him, El Masri pleaded not guilty before the court
The Magistrate court presided over by Mrs Joy Ugbomiko proceeded to adjourn the case till June 16 while granting the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties according to the Chief Magistrate must be gainfully employed and must be company directors or should have property any where in Lagos State.
She noted that the addresses and places of business of the sureties must also be verified.
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