Edward Peter, an Investigation Police Officer (IPO), on Wednesday, testified in the trial of former Zonal Manager, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Lugard Edegbe, on alleged forgery and land grabbing.Peter, who was summoned by a Wuse Zone 6 Magistrate Court, Abuja, told the presiding Magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Wonni, about the facts his office established in the matter before it was charged to court.
He was led in evidence by police prosecutor, Fidelis Emmanuel, who held the brief of Peter Amadi. However, some of the documents the IPO mentioned in his statement were yet to be served on the defence counsel, prompting the magistrate to adjourn the matter until April 20 for trial continuation.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that Edegbe (1st defendant) and Aisha Shettima (2nd defendant) are being charged with criminal conspiracy, trespass and forgery by the police.
A prosecution witness in the case, Hope Usiosefe, who said that Edegbe was his uncle who trained him and his siblings in school after the death of his parents, had, in 2021, testified against the ex-AMAC manager.
NAN reports that a businessman, Muhammad Bature, had, on Feb. 5, 2020, while giving his evidence as the star witness, accused Edegbe, of appropriating his land located at Sabon Lugbe area of Abuja.Bature said he bought the land from Abdullahi Aliu in 2009 at the rate of N5 million.
However, Edegbe, a 59-year-old man, was said to have resold the plot measuring 2.7 hectares belonging to Bature to Shettima, a public servant.(NAN)
