In a development that unfolded on October 31, 2023, the Port Harcourt Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges against one Emmanuel Sanikpege before Justice P. I. Ajoku of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Sanikpege stands accused of fabricating a letter of attestation and falsely representing himself as a surety to secure the release of Umor Bright, an individual subject to investigation by the EFCC.
Emmanuel Sanikpege faced a two-count indictment on charges of forgery, as stipulated in Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007. These charges carry penalties set forth in Section 1 (2) of the same Act.
One of the counts read: “That you, Emmanuel Sanikpege, on or about the 22nd day of August, 2022, in Port Harcourt, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did create a forged document, namely, LETTER OF ATTESTATION RE: Emanuel Sanikpege, purportedly from Government Senior Secondary School, Oyigbo, Rivers State. This document, you knew, was forged with the intent that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, would act upon it as an original and genuine document, thereby committing an offense contrary to Section 1(2) (c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act (CAP M17 of the Revised Edition (Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) 2007 and punishable under Section 1 (2) of the same Act.”
Upon the reading of the charges, the defendant, Emmanuel Sanikpege, entered a plea of “not guilty.”
In response to his plea, the prosecution counsel, B. O. Agala, requested the court to schedule a date for the commencement of the trial.
Simultaneously, the defense counsel, T. Musa, apprised the court of a pending bail application on behalf of the defendant. He implored the court to grant bail to Sanikpege to allow him to adequately prepare for his forthcoming trial.
In light of these arguments, Justice Ajoku approved the defendant’s release on bail, setting the bail amount at N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) with two sureties required to post a similar amount. These sureties must be civil servants employed by either the Rivers State Government or the Federal Government of Nigeria, holding positions at grade level 12 or higher. Furthermore, they must possess real estate within Port Harcourt, accompanied by certificates of occupancy to be deposited with the court. Additionally, each surety is to furnish two recent passport photographs or other means of identification to the court registry. Verification of the sureties will be carried out by the EFCC.
The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the case to March 12, 2024, marking the commencement of the trial and ordered the defendant’s remand in the Port Harcourt Correctional Service until that time.Emmanuel Sanikpege initially came to the attention of the EFCC in August 2022 when he was arrested on suspicion of forgery. It is alleged that he falsely presented himself as a surety for Umor Bright’s bail by submitting a fraudulent letter of attestation bearing a fictitious signature purportedly from the principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Oyigbo, Port Harcourt.
