A disturbing case of alleged forgery and extortion has rocked the Enugu State judiciary, involving a court official and a lawyer.
The exposure was contained in a petition to the Honorable Chief Judge of Enugu State by a human rights organisation based in Enugu, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), June 16, 2025.
In the petition copied to the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, and signed by Olu Omotayo, the President of CRRAN, highlighted the plight of Mr. Omotara Yusuf, a POS operator who was allegedly victimised by a syndicate involving court officials and a lawyer.
According to the petition, Mr. Yusuf was unlawfully detained for almost a week and had N4,995,000 removed from his Access Bank POS account based on two court orders that were allegedly forged by Mrs. F.N. Nosike, an Assistant Chief Registrar at the Magistrate Court, Enugu South Magisterial District, and procured by Barrister Chidiogo Maduekwe.
The petition is titled: “Re: Appeal For Justice; unlawful detention of POS Operator Mr. Omotara Yusuf and subsequent removal of the sum of N4,995,000 from his Access Bank POS 0098887612 based on the two Court orders made by His Worship J.O. Umezulike SNR. MAG.GD.1, with two different signatures of the Assistant Chief Registrar Mrs. F.N. Nosike on the orders dated 26th May 2023 and 6th June 2023, respectively in Suit No. MES/313/2023.”
According to the petition, Mr. Yusuf was not a party in the suit and had no relationship with the applicant, Mr. Umeizu Nzube, before his arrest and detention.
The petitioner noted that the said court orders, which were allegedly forged, were used to justify the detention and removal of funds from Mr. Yusuf’s account.
“The Court is the last hope of the common man and therefore it is incumbent on the authorities including the Enugu State government not to allow this rule of the jungle to prevail on the Rule of Law in the state,” the petition reads.
According to the petition, when Mr. Yusuf visited the court to inquire about the orders, Mrs. Nosike allegedly denied signing the documents and claimed that her signature was forged. “She said he should go and arrest Umeizu Nzube and Barrister Chidiogo Maduekwe, that she has done her best,” the petition states.
It noted that a meeting was later convened, which was attended by Mr. Yusuf, Umeizu Nzube, Bar. Maduekwe, and another lawyer, Charles Ifenze Ugwu. “During the meeting, Umeizu Nzube promised to refund Mr. Yusuf’s money, but failed to do so”.
The CRRAN has demanded that the court authorities take immediate action to investigate the allegations and bring the perpetrators to justice. “The actions of Mrs. F.N. Nosike and her cohorts is an act of perversion of the course of Justice and an attack on the Rule of Law in Nigeria,” the petition reads.
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“The detention of Mr. Yusuf, based on the court orders was a ploy to intimidate him not to challenge the unlawful removal of moneys from his account by this syndicate who deceived the court that money was mistakenly transferred to Mr. Yusuf’s account,” the petition further states.
The case has raised serious concerns about the integrity of the judiciary and the need for accountability in the administration of justice.
The outcome of this case will be closely watched, as it has significant implications for the rule of law and the protection of citizens’ rights in Nigeria.