Mr. Anthony Mark, an Investigating Officer with the Economic and  Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday alleged that a Lebanese, Abboud Micheal, used as genuine a forged Nigerian International passport to get a work permit.

The EFCC charged Micheal with three counts bordering on forgery and using it as a genuine forged document.

Testifying in an FCT High Court in Kubwa while being led in evidence by  Mr. Steve Odiase, EFCC counsel, Mark said he recorded the defendant’s statement in February 2016 because he could not write in English.

”I took the defendant’s statements in the company of three other investigators. The statement was tendered as evidence in court and marked as Exhibit six,” he said.

When asked by the defense counsel, Zakari Garba, if the EFCC investigations revealed that the defendant worked with the Ministry of Interior or Immigration.

Garba further asked if the witness had a document to show that the defendant’s Nigerian international passport was forged.

He also asked if the EFCC were aware that one Antonio Menessie applied for the defendant’s Nigerian passport.

The witness in response said that the defendant does not work with Nigerian Immigration adding that he brought a letter of confirmation as a citizen of Nigeria issued to him by the Ministry of Interior.

He further revealed that investigations were extended to the ministry of interior and they replied saying the said letter was not issued by them.

Mark said the defendant mentioned in his statement that Menessie applied for his passport and Menessie had died at the time of the investigation.

After the testimony, Justice Kezziah Ogbonnaya adjourned the matter until May 4 for the continuation of hearing.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the EFCC alleged that the defendant obtained a Nigerian International passport through fraudulent means.

 

NAN