Tenant Forges Death Certificate To Claim Landlord’s Estate & Money In Bank

CHUKA UBAH

A 43-year old tenant, Mr. Ikechukwu Igwegbe Ilodinru, did the unthinkable after the landlord, Anthony Osuokwu Okafor, died and he started processing documents in order to claim his estate and bank deposits as his only biological son in Aguata Local Government of Anambra State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Igboukwu Town in Aguata Local Government area of the state, where the late Okafor hailed from while Ilodinru hails from Onneh in Orumba South Local Government area both in Anambra State.

This was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, who said that the suspect was in Police custody for allegedly impersonating his dead landlord’s son with the intention of claiming his estates and bank deposits.

Mr. Mohammed stated that the suspect approached the probate Registry of the State High Court, Awka and started processing for a Letter of Administration in respect of a deceased person, late Okafor and presented himself as the deceased’s first and only son in order to obtain the document which would have given him access to the deceased property, estates and bank deposits.

”Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect equally swore to an oath under false pretense that he is the deceased’s biological son. The suspect also obtained a forged death certificate allegedly from the National Population Commission stating that the deceased, whose actual death took place on 27th July, 2020, occurred on the 23rd of July 2020.”
“He quickly rushed to Union Bank to withdraw the deceased’s deposit, but was advised to get a Letter of Administration. The suspect, who voluntarily confessed to the crime, was a tenant in the landlord’s house at Igboukwu and impersonated the deceased’s first son, who lives in Zaria in the Northern part of the country” the Police spokesperson said.

Mr. Haruna said exhibits recovered in his possession included alleged forged dead certificate of the deceased, false sworn declaration as the deceased next of kin, and sworn affidavit in the High Court Awka.

The Police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said investigation is ongoing after which the suspect will be charged to Court for prosecution.