A prosecution witness, Insp. Peter Joseph, on Thursday told a Federal High Court, Gudu, Abuja, that he could not locate the address given by an accused person standing trial for alleged forgery.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had in April 2005 arraigned the accused, Banila Gwoga, 45, for alleged forgery and attempt to obtain money by pretence.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Joseph, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Mr Chile Okoroma, told the court that he could not trace the Lagos address given by the accused person.
He said he approached the appropriate authorities in Lagos who confirmed to him that the address on the accused person’s letterhead did not exist.
The prosecution witness also said that the phone numbers on the said letterhead were “all dead”, as attempts to call them failed.
Gwoga is alleged to have forged a letterhead with the title “Leyed Security Nigeria Limited”.
He allegedly wrote letters to government agencies and establishments, claiming to have been awarded a contract to supply security gadgets.
The prosecution said the accused person had claimed that the contract was awarded by the State House.
Cross-examining the witness, Mr Max Ogar, the defence counsel, told him that he did not make any serious effort to trace the address.
He sought to know if the witness would want to make another trip to Lagos for the purpose of tracing the address.
In her ruling, Justice Adebukola Banjoko adjourned the matter to Dec. 8 for further hearing.