Man jailed for two years for forging contract

Nkereuwem Effiong

Justice F. A. Olubanjo of the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, has convicted and sentenced a contractor, Julius Ejiogu, to two years’ imprisonment for forgery.

Ejiogu was arraigned on 23 March 2021 by the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on three counts of conspiracy, forgery and uttering false documents. He pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial.

The EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said on 17 March 2026 that the charge alleged that Ejiogu and an accomplice, identified as Engr. E. Expert (now at large) conspired on or about 2 August 2013 in Delta State to forge a document titled “Award of Contract for the Construction of Obudu-Operation Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State.

The document, purportedly issued by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), was said to be false.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravenes Section 3(6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2007, and is punishable under Section 3(1)(c) of the same Act.

During the trial, prosecution counsel K. Y. Bello called four witnesses and tendered several documents, all of which were admitted in evidence. The defendant testified as the sole witness in his defence.

In his judgment delivered on 15 January 2026, Justice Olubanjo found Ejiogu guilty on count one but discharged and acquitted him on counts two and three. He was consequently sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦1 million fine.

The case stemmed from Ejiogu’s acquisition of what he claimed was an NDDC contract award letter for the construction of the Obudu-Oleri Road in Udu Local Government Area, Delta State, from one Engr. Eshitt. He subsequently sold the purported contract to a petitioner for ₦2 million.

The petitioner later discovered that the contract document was fraudulent, leading to the EFCC investigation and prosecution.