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By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—A chief in the palace of the Oba of Benin, Chief John Adun, 61, and three others have been re-arraigned before an Egor Magistrate’s Court, Edo State, on a six-count charge of forgery of documents, procuring execution of deeds by threat, destroying a building valued at N22 million and destruction of six graves/tombs, among others.

Other accused persons are Omorogbe Austins, 36, and Festus Etta, 39.

Count one of the charge stated that the accused persons on January 15, 2015, at No 114, Uselu Lagos Road, Benin City, conspired and forged a document of sharing properties of late Victor Okunoghae, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code Cap 48 Vol 11 Laws of the defunct Bendel state of Nigeria 1976 as applicable to Edo State.

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The accused were alleged to have procured execution of deeds by threat with intent to defraud and by means of unlawful violence in respect of the property known as No 114, Uselu Lagos Road, Benin City and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 409 of the criminal code Cap 48 Vol 11 Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria 1976, as applicable to Edo State.

The three persons were accused of allegedly destroying a building worth N22 million, property of late Victor Okunoghae family and further destroying six existing graves/tombs, therein and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 451 of the Criminal code cap 48 Vol. 11 Laws of the defunct Bendel State of Nigeria as applicable to Edo State.

At the hearing in the matter, yesterday, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges just as the court allowed them to continue on the earlier bail granted to them.

Presiding Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Igho Braimoh, also directed the Registrar of the court to verify the bail earlier granted the accused and adjourned hearing till August 28, 2017.