Three persons were on Thursday, December 18, 2025, arraigned before a Magistrate Court sitting in Abagana, Njikoka Magisterial District of Anambra State, over alleged forgery and fraudulent land documents.
The defendants—Christian Okonkwo, Gozie Okonkwo and Innocent Chinedu Okonkwo—were charged by the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, in a two-count amended charge marked MNJ/43C/2024.
According to the charge, the trio allegedly committed the offences in 2023 at Abagana, within the court’s jurisdiction. The police alleged that the defendants conspired to commit a felony, to wit forgery, an offence punishable under Section 495 of the Criminal Code, Revised Laws of Anambra State, 1991 (as amended).
In the second count, the prosecution alleged that the defendants forged a land document titled “Aniofia Ezugama Uruagbiligba” with intent to defraud Mrs. Kasie Abone, a member of the family of the late Mrs. Comfort Okonkwo, whose first son was the late Emmanuel Okonkwo. The offence is said to be contrary to Section 437(1) of the Criminal Code, Revised Laws of Anambra State, 1991 (as amended).
The amended charge, dated December 18, 2025, was signed by Amara Muojeke, Esq., Assistant Chief State Counsel, Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Awka, and filed at the Magistrate Court, Abagana.
Court documents also referenced a sworn affidavit deposed to at the Chief Magistrate Court, Awka, by the late Mrs. Comfort I. Okonkwo of Akpu Village, Abagana, affirming that a parcel of land located at Aniofia Ezugama Uruagbiligba belongs to her late son, Emmanuel Okonkwo.
In the affidavit, sworn on January 26, 2012, Mrs. Okonkwo stated that the land was granted to her son in perpetuity on January 29, 1990, by a group of Abagana natives, following a formal transaction. She listed members of the grantors to include Chief Nwankwo Okakpu, Nwankwo Obeki, Nwoye Onyekwelu, Pius Unegbu, Nwoye Igbekwe, Emmanuel Okafor and Isaiah Okakpu, all of Amaenye, Abagana.
She further deposed that an agreement was reached, read and signed at the Customary Court Registry, Abagana, in 1990, adding that she signed as a witness after the contents were read in English and interpreted in Igbo to her understanding. According to her, the affidavit was made following attempts by some persons to dispute the land and solely for official and record purposes.
However, arising from continued claims over the land, Mrs. Kasie Abone petitioned the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, alleging forgery of a land document belonging to her late brother, Emmanuel Okonkwo. In the petition dated January 5, 2024, she accused Christian Okonkwo, Innocent Okonkwo and Gozie Okonkwo of forging the document to falsely claim ownership of the leased land.
She cited alleged discrepancies between the original and disputed documents and requested a forensic examination, urging the police to invite the accused persons to present their copies for investigation.
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