Alleged forgery: Absence of Police report stalls trial of lawyers, real estate developer

The failure of the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, to produce the report of a fresh police investigation into allegations of forgery and wilful property damage has stalled the ongoing trial of two lawyers and a real estate developer before a Lagos High Court.

The defendants, Ademola Owolabi, Adebayo Akeju and Alex Ochonogor, are standing trial before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, over alleged forgery of land documents and the demolition of a property in the Lekki area of the state.

They were earlier arraigned over allegations bordering on conspiracy, forgery and wilful property damage.

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But the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and were subsequently admitted to bail pending the determination of the case.

At the previous sitting of the court on October 14, 2025, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, told the court that the prosecution was not ready to proceed with the trial, citing a directive from the Attorney-General for the police to reinvestigate the matter.

Martins requested an adjournment to enable the police conclude the fresh investigation and forward its report to the prosecution. The application drew opposition from defence counsel, who accused the Attorney-General of abusing the court process.

Counsel for the third defendant, Alex Ochonogor, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), argued that ordering a reinvestigation after arraignment amounted to a violation of fair hearing and due process.

According to him, the prosecution cannot commence criminal proceedings, bring defendants before the court and thereafter seek to reopen investigations on the same allegations.

He described the move as oppressive and an abuse of judicial process, insisting the case should not have been filed if investigations were incomplete.

Despite the objections, Justice Sonaike adjourned the matter to January 12, 2026, directing the police to liaise with the prosecution and submit the outcome of the reinvestigation.

However, at the resumed hearing on Monday, Martins informed the court that the prosecution was awaiting the police report.

Owing to the absence of one defendant, the judge adjourned the case to March 9.