COSON CRISIS: EFE OMOROGBE, OTHERS ARRAIGNED FOR FORGERY

IGBOSERE, Lagos, Nigeria – The founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Now Muzik Limited, Mr. Efe Omorogbe, was on Thursday arraigned before an Igbosere Magistrate’ Court, Lagos for alleged forgery. Omorogbe, 47, was arraigned by the Zone II Police Command Headquarters, Obalende, alongside Mr Joel Ajayi, 61, before Chief Magistrate O. O. Oshin.

Ajayi is listed on the Copyright Society of Nigeria Ltd (COSON) website as member Board of Directors and “the Managing Director, Gospel Choral Records Ltd.” They are standing trial on a three-count charge of forgery, use of a false document and breach of peace.

Prosecuting Sergeant Friday Mameh told the court that the defendants and others at large, committed the offences on December 7, 2017 at No. 41, Oluwaleyimu Street, Ikeja, Lagos. Mameh alleged that they forged the COSON letterheaded, “with intent that it may be acted upon or used as genuine…to the prejudice of COSON.

“The offence is contrary to Section 363 and punishable under Section 376 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

Mameh said, the defendants, “with intent to defraud, knowingly use the forged COSON letterheaded with intent that it may in anyway be used or acted upon as genuine whether in Nigeria or elsewhere to the prejudice of COSON. “The offence is contrary to Section 366(1) and punishable under Section 376 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.”

He alleged that the defendants also “conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by storming the meeting venue of Chief Tony Okoroji with thugs and disrupted the meeting proceedings.” The offence, according to him, contravened Section 168(d) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Omorogbe and Ajayi pleaded not guilty. Their counsel, S. Ehiwelele and Chibuzor Nwankobi prayed the court to admit them to bail on liberal terms.
Chief Magistrate Oshin granted each defendant N250,000 bail with one surety in the like sum. She added: “Each surety must have a sustainable means of livelihood, show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have a verifiable address.” The case continues on May 17.