Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye of an Ikeja High Court on Tuesday ordered the Police to produce in court on June 8 the 12 defendants charged with forging the title documents of the late Madam Efunroye Tinubu’s estate located at Alaka area of Surulere, Lagos.
The order followed the stalled arraignment of the 12 people charged with land fraud when the case was called on Tuesday following their absence in court.
The defendants are Buhari Oloto, Tomori Williams, Adeyemi Adewale, Jimoh Jafar, Kunle Olajide and Chief Edward Ajayi.
Others are Adejumo Tajudeen, Abeden Akinoki, Lukeman Bakari, Junaid Akeem, Ogundele Olatunji and Alawe Adeniyi.
The State Counsel, Mr Emmanuel Jackson, told the court that the the defendants were still in police custody in Abuja.
“This matter is for arraignment today, this is the first time that I am appearing in this matter and we have made efforts to produce the defendants in court but to no avail.
“I was personally in Alagbon on Lagos Island to talk to the Police and they said that their administrative bail will be revoked and produce them in court.
“The Commissioner of Police had ordered that all the defendants be taken to Abuja and that on the next date of adjournment the defendants will be produced.
“We will like to request for a date for another adjournment,” he said.
Ipaye then ordered the Police them in court unfailingly on the next date of adjournment.
The defendants are facing a three-count charge of unlawful interference in property, forcible entry and forcible possession of land.
According to the EFCC, the defendants unlawfully interfered with and forged the title deeds of an expense of land belonging to the Registered Trustees of the estate of the late Madam Tinubu located at Alaka.
The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened Sections 52, 53 and 338 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015 (Revised).
The case was adjourned until June 8 for arraignment.