Two clearing agents namely Muhammed Hakeem Idowu (24) and Saheed Adesina (35) were on Monday arraigned before an Apapa Magistrate’s Court for allegedly forging a bill of lading to clear one Toyota Highlander in Apapa.
The duo is facing a five-count charge of conspiracy, forgery, breach of peace, fraud and possessing fake bill of lading.
The prosecutor, Sergeant Friday Inedu, told the court that the defendants committed the offences between May and July 2019 at Apapa area.
“The defendants conspired with others at large to forge one bill of lading US00247542 to clear one Toyota Highlander with chassis number 5TDJKRFH27S114345 illegally,” Inedu said.
The prosecutor also said that the defendants conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by unlawfully used Ayofat Global Services Limited licence belonging to one Mr Mufutau Azeez to clear one Toyota Highlander that led to the blockage of his licence.
Inedu added that the defendants unlawfully used Ayofat Global Services Limited belonging to one Mr Mufutau Azeez to defraud Federal Government of Nigeria and possessed fake bill of lading of Toyota Highlander with chassis number 5TDJKRFH27S114345.
According to him, the offences are punishable under sections 411, 365(1), 168(d) and 322(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
Magistrate Temitope Babalola granted them N100,000 bail with two sureties each in like sum.
The sureties are required to furnish the court with evidence of tax payment to Lagos State Government.
He adjourned the matter till September 16, 2019 for mention.