EFCC arraigns three for forgery

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday arraigned the trio of Waheed Omotayo (alias Badmus Mustapha), Giwa Tunde Abiodun and Aghama Peter before Justice Ibrahim Bukar of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja.
The accused persons were arraigned on an eight count charge bordering on forgery.
Count one of the charges reads: “That you Waheed Omotayo (aka Badmus Mustapha), Giwa Tunde Abiodun and Aghama Peter and one Mallam Mohammad (still at large) on or about the 23rd of May 2012 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, agreed amongst yourself to do an illegal act to wit: Forgery of the following documents 1. Two Egyptian entry applications. 2. Two international passport and 3. One First Bank of Nigeria PLC statement of account dated the 18th May 2012 and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 79 and punishable under section 364 of the penal code.”
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Counsel to the EFCC, Benjamin Manji, then asked the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody and fix a date for trial.
Attempt by the counsel to the first accused person, Usman Kabirm, to move an oral application for bail but was unsuccessful as Justice Bukar urged him to present a written application for bail.
The counsel to the third accused, Peter Erivwode, said he had submitted a written bail application on January 22, 2013.
But Manji said he got the application late and that he was yet to study it.
Justice Bukar ruled that the accused persons be remanded in the EFCC custody till January 25 when their bail applications will be heard and fixed February 14, 2013 for trial.