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Lawyer, 4 others accused of falsifying will

A Lawyer and four oth­ers have been put before the Achimota Circuit Court for allegedly falsifying a will.

Joseph KwowAddo Sam, a 57-year-old lawyer, Alhaji Seidu Adam Baba, 82-year-old chief, Abdullai Salia, also known as Abdullai Salia Junior, Abubakar­Salia, and Saeed Salia, have been charged with conspiracy.

Sam and Baba are facing additional charges of forgery of official documents and altering forged documents.

Sam, Salia, Abubakar, and Saeed are also facing another charge of perjury.

The court, presided over by Mrs Akosua Abokyewaa Ad­jepong, granted GH¢200,000 bail to Sam with three sureties, one of whom must be a public ser­vant earning GH¢3,000 and must live within the jurisdiction.

Sam is also required to report to the police on Tuesdays every fortnight.

Baba, the second accused, was earlier granted GH¢150,000 bail after pleading not guilty to the various charges.

Saeed Salia’s plea was deferred due to his recent arrest.

Sam, represented by Bernard Koranteng Obiri, sought bail, claiming he was a family person with a fixed address who man­aged a law practice.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, said that Alhaji Seidu Adam Baba is the Banda Chief in Accra, and that the rest of the accused ex­cept the lawyer, were siblings.

The prosecution said the complainant, Idris Salia, was a businessman.

The complainant’s father, according to the prosecution, was the late Alhaji Salia Abdullai, currently on trial with his three siblings.

ASP Babayi said that after the death of their father on June 23, 2021, a will was produced and said to be the last will their father deposited at the registry of the High Court, Probate Division since May 7, 2004.

The prosecution said the will was witnessed by the late Tony Kenyin Foli and Alhaji Salia Abdullai.

ASP Babayi said the com­plainant became suspicious when he obtained a copy of the will, conducted his private checks and found out that his late father and Tony Kenyin Foli’s signatures on the said will had been forged.

The complainant, therefore, petitioned the Director General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for investiga­tions, according to prosecution.

ASP Babayi said a certified true copy of the will was ob­tained from the Registrar, High Court, and probate Division and a copy of Tony Kenyin Foli’s statements were obtained from the Regional Police headquarters.

The prosecution said in­vestigations were extended to Ecobank, Ghana Commercial Bank and the Registrar Generals Department, where signature samples of their late father were obtained.

ASP Babayi said all the signa­tures were sent for forensic ex­amination, and it became known that the disputed signatures on the will and probate forms (Judi­cial Form 35) were not authored by the named persons.

The prosecution said it was established that Sam conspired with the four accused to prepare the forged will of late Alhaji Salia Abdullai and Baba signed as a witness.

ASP Babayi said on Novem­ber 8, 2021, the three siblings standing trial, applied to High Court 2, Accra, for grant of Pro­bate based on the forged will.

The complainant petitioned the police, and when Sam was arrested, in his caution statement, he admitted that he prepared the last will of late Alhaji Salia Abdullai and deposited it at the Registry of the High Court, Pro­bate Division on May 7, 2004.

The prosecution said Abuba­kar Salia and Saeed Salia, both at large, signed the probate form which was procured through fraud. —GNA

the complainant, was a soldier stationed at Burma Camp, Accra.

The court heard that Atsu Adadevoh,who claimed to be a businessman, lives at Teshie, Accra.

Sup Yirenkyi said in 2022, the complainant established contact with Atsu and his brother, Etse, who is now at large.

The prosecution said Atsu and Etse, both 39, collected GH¢62,165.00 from Ms Attit­sogbui,to rent her a store for one year.

SupYirenkyi said after receiv­ing the money, Atsu and Etse failed to honour their promise,

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