Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday, August 23, 2019 remanded fake surety William Greatman in prison custody for forgery contrary to Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act, 2007.
According to the statement by EFCC, William Greatman (Alias Fubara Duke) was arraigned on Friday, August 23, 2019, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt Zonal Office, on two -count charges bordering on forgery. He allegedly presented a fake Certificate of Occupancy to secure the bail of a defendant at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt (fake surety).
One of the charges read: “That you Williams Greatman (Alias Fubara Duke) on or about the 1st day of August 2017 at the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of the Honorable Court did forge a document to wit; RIVERS STATE OF NIGERIA CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY No. 51 in the name of Fubara Duke with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1 (2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) Act, 2007”
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges when read to him.
In view of his plea, prosecuting counsel, E. Abbiyesuku, prayed the court for a date of commencement of trial and that the defendant is remanded in prison custody. Defence counsel, O. A. Oguleye orally applied for the bail of the defendant
Justice A.T. Mohammed turned down the oral bail application and remanded the defendant in prison custody.
Williams ran into trouble when the EFCC received a petition from the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt alleging that the defendant forged a Certificate of Occupancy which he tendered as a Surety before the court.