12 February 2008
Lagos — Due to increasing number of foreign nationals involved in criminal activities, the Police authorities have vowed to prosecute such criminals who feel that they can make Nigeria a safe haven for their unlawful activities. Eugene Agha writes
In a bid to curtail all forms of criminal activities in all parts of the country, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, recently vowed to deal ruthlessly with any member of the public arrested in connection with any forms of crime. Towards this end, Okiro gave all departmental heads, zonal Inspector General of Police (AIG), and their respective State Commissioners of Police an ultimatum to arrest any foreigner alleged to have been involved in crime.
The decision to deal with foreigners who are involved in crime, it was gathered was sequel to the series of complains to the office of the IGP from members of the public about the alleged fraudulent activities of foreign national resident in Nigeria, particularly members of the Lebanese and other Asian communities.
They were alleged to have not only aided and abated crime, but that some of them thrive in forging government papers, and import duty documents. This has accounted for the loss in the internally generated revenue accruing to the government, activities which the police authorities feel these foreign nationals can not do in their own countries.
Interestingly, the Police at the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID), Panti Street, Yaba commenced a man hunt of a Lebanese allegedly accused of forgery, perjury and duping unsuspecting Nigerians. The manhunt finally yielded result recently when the accused was arrested and detained following an advice given by the legal unit of the Nigerian Police that the suspect has a case to answer. After the police concluded its investigations, the said suspect was arraigned in court on Tuesday, January 22, at the Magistrate Court one, Yaba, Lagos.
The accused, who identified himself as Alex El-Halabi, 66 and director of NAL Development Company was alleged to have not only defrauded a Nigerian of the sum of N27m, was also said to have forged the signature of a police officer and a Lagos State Government official with an initial intension of duping unsuspecting members of the public. He appeared in court on a seven-count charge. Among the charges brought before him, were that he, Alex El-Halabi on December, 2004 at the Lagos High Court made a declaration before the Commissioner of Oath as a director of NAL Development Company Limited at No 7, Oluwole Omole Street, Ikeja and swore that the company is the lawful owner of the certificate of occupancy with registration No 16/16/19664U and dated March, 13th 1996 concerning a parcel of land at Alausa Village, Ikeja knowing full well that the information was false, thereby, committing an offence punishable under Section 192 of the criminal code laws of the Lagos State of 2003.
He was also accused that on January 19th, 2006, at the same Magistrate District in which he was accused of false information to the police at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti Yaba, having stated that he lost the same Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) No 16/61/9664U, while he knew that the said certificate of occupancy was in custody of the Nigeria Police Force at Alagbon Close Ikoyi, Lagos, thereby committing an offence under section 125A of the criminal code cap C 17 Volume 2 laws of Lagos State.
He was further accused that on March 19, 2006 at the same place, he in a declaration before the Commissioner for Oaths, Ikeja High Court did swore to an affidavit on oath that he lost the above stated certificate, a declaration which turned out to be false and also an offence contrary to Section 117 and punishable under section 118 of laws of the criminal code cap C 17 volume Laws of the Lagos State 2003.
Another charge against him, was that he El -Halabi also on December 21, 2004, at the Lagos State High Court Ikeja allegedly forged the signature of one Mrs. S.O Ogunyemi dated December 21, 2004, purporting same to have been signed by the Commissioner with the intent that it may be used as genuine whether in Lagos or else where to the prejudice of any person believing that the signature to be genuine.
This action by this foreigner amounted to committing another offence punishable under section 418 of the criminal code cap C 17 volume 1 laws of the Lagos State 2003.
Other charges read to him was that he on the December, 2004 at Lagos State High Court Ikeja did utter the signature of Ogunyemi, the Commissioner of Oath in the High Court of Lagos division in affidavit which he purported to have been sworn before her, thereby committing another offence contrary to section 468 and punishable under section 467 of the criminal code cap C 17 volume laws of the Lagos State 2003.
Equally, he was also accused of committing and forgery on January 19, 2006, through the station diary extract No. 068 of 19/01/2006 which bears the signature of a woman Inspector Ngozi S. Onuka of the area command, purporting same to have been signed by her with intent that it may be used as her real signature and the entry made by her. He was thereby said to have committed an offence punishable under 467 of the criminal code cap c 17 volume Laws of the Lagos State 2003.
The accused was also charged that he on January 19, 2006 at the Magistrate District did alter the station diary extract No. 068 and the signature of a woman inspector with intent that it could be used as a genuine whether in Lagos State or else whose to the prejudice of any person believing the document to be genuine or valid, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 467 of the criminal code cap C 17 volume laws of the Lagos State of welfare 2003.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge. But the Chief Magistrate Christiana Adesola-Ikpati granted him bail in the sum of N150,000 with two sureties and adjourned the case to February 20, 2008. In the past, THISDAY checks revealed that there have publications on the dubious activities of the Lebanese national. This arraignment in a regular court of law, this time around, implies that those who had dealings with him in the past are poised to seek redress in the court.
THISDAY investigation further revealed that some foreigners living in the country instead of living within the ambit of the laws resort to cash in on the economic down-turn, bedeviling the country to cause criminal and economic havocs to their host country. With the adjournment of the case to February 20, for further hearing, indications are that this may be one out of the million cases Nigerians may wish to know the outcome. The arrest and subsequent arraignment of the accused, simply reminds one of an old maxim which says "you can only run but can not hide."
In 2001, THISDAY was told that the same man appeared in Ilorin Magistrate's Court in connection with N27 million fraud. According to the Punch publication of Tuesday April 3, 2001 page nine, Mr. Halabi was on Monday April 2, 2001 arraigned in an Ilorin Magistrate's Court for duping a Nigerian, Mr. Jide Ajayi of N27 million.
"The first information Report (FIR) read in court, alleged that Halabi obtained money under false pretence contrary to Decree 13 of 1995. The FIR explained that Jide Ajayi, wrote a letter of complaint on March 4, 2001 to the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Command, Alhaji Gazali Lawal about how he had been duped by the Lebanese, urging the police to investigate the matter and bring the suspect to book," the publication said.
The Punch publication also had it that "the letter was said to have been endorsed to the Anti-Vice Squad, Ilorin for investigation. It noted that in the FIR, Ajayi alleged that sometime in 1996, Halabi, a Lebanese national of NAL Development Company Ltd, Lagos and other persons now at large, approached him to come and buy a warehouse at Oregun Industrial Estate Lagos.
"After showing him the warehouse, they agreed on N36 million of which Ajayi paid N27million. In June 1998, Ajayi wanted to sell the property to a prospective buyer, when he was challenged by one Alhaji Baba where he was informed that the property he purchased does not belong to Halabi.
"On further enquiry, it was however revealed that one Justice Holloway family in Lagos is the actual owner of the land and has since 1993 sued Halabi over the land, while the case is still pending," it said.
The publication also noted that Halabi pleaded not guilty to some of the allegations, while the presiding Magistrate Isa Babatunde Garba ruled that the suspect should be remanded in police custody to allow them finish their investigation. Would the Lebanese further escape from the present Police and judicial net? For the Police and others who have done business with Halabi, time will definitely tell.
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