Lebanese Docked for Allegedly Falsifying Letter Confirming his Nigerian Citizenship

A 42-year old Lebanese, Rami El Masri, who allegedly forged a letter confirming his Nigerian citizenship, was on Thursday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Masri, who owns two construction companies on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, is standing trial on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy and forgery.

The prosecutor, DSP Susan Ezema, told the court that Masri committed the offences on December 15th 2008 and November 19th 2014 at No. 6, Oniru Street, Apapa, Lagos, and at No. 13, Milverton Road., Ikoyi, Lagos respectively.

Ezema said the accused with others still at large conspired and forged a letter of confirmation of Nigeria citizenship with reference No. MIA/NAT 382/1.

She said: “The letter was forged on Dec. 15, 2008 and the accused fraudulently presented himself as a Nigerian citizen. On Nov. 19, 2014 at the Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, the accused presented the forged letter to one CSP Martin Nwogoh as a genuine document.”

According to the prosecutor, the accused presented the letter with the intention that it will be acted on as a genuine document in Nigeria. The offences contravened Sections 363 (3), 363 (4) and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The accused, however, denied the charge.

The Magistrate, Joy Ugbomiko, granted the accused N200, 000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

Ugbomiko said the sureties must be company directors or have property in any part of Lagos State.

She said that the addresses of the sureties and their business addresses should be verified as part of the bail condition.

The case was adjourned to June 16th for mention.