A Wuse Zone Six Chief Magistrates’ Court Abuja Monday docked Success Desmond, a 38-year-old telecoms engineer, for allegedly forging his late father’s death certificate.

Desmond, who resides in Wuse 2, Abuja, was charged with two counts of making false statement in declaration and using as genuine a forged document.

The offences committed contravened Sections 164 and 366 of the Penal Code.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

During their appearance, the Prosecution Counsel, Fidelis Ogbobe, told the court that the complainant, Brook Solicitors, through a petition reported the matter to the office of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team on March 19.

He alleged that the defendant fraudulently obtained an affidavit as the next-of-kin of his late father, Nze Desmond.

Ogbobe alleged further that the defendant went on to forge a death certificate of his father, which he claimed emanated from Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri.

The prosecutor further alleged that the forged certificate and the affidavit were used by the defendant to carry out a Sim card swap of his father’s MTN line with number 08037039960.

According to him, the crime was later discovered during police investigation, saying the defendant’s claim on the affidavit as the next-of-kin was false and that the death certificate was equally forged.

In his prayer, however, Dayo Ajayi, the defendant’s counsel, told the court to admit his client to bail in the most liberal terms in line with the provisions of Sections 158,162 and 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

The Chief Magistrate, Ahmed Ndajiwo, subsequently admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

According to his verdict, the sureties must reside within the court jurisdiction and their addresses must be verified by court officials.

The case has since been adjourned till July 27, for hearing.