A former pastor of the Christian Charismatic Ministries, Rev. Joseph Ndolo, has told an Enugu Magistrate’s Court that the General Overseer of the church, Sabinus Onuigbo, forged his signature in a document forwarded to the Corporate Affairs Commission to change the trustees of the Ministry.

The General Overseer, Onuigbo, is facing trial over alleged forgery.

Onuigbo and five senior pastors of the church – Tony Chukwu, Chukwuma Orji, Nick Nwoye and Tony Ike – were accused of conspiring to commit forgery, an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code, cap. 30, Vol. 11, Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.

According to the charge sheet with suit number CME/56C/2017, Onuigbo and the other accused persons, on or about July 16, 2014, and August 10, 2014, forged and appended Ndolo’s signature on some documents without lawful authority.

The accused persons allegedly used the forged signature to apply to the Corporate Affairs Commission to change the trustees of the church.

He said forged signature was also appended in a public notice, which was allegedly issued by the accused persons, as well as in the minutes of a meeting of the leaders of the church.

However, the accused persons are contesting the charges, having pleaded not guilty during their arraignment before Chief Magistrate J. O. Umezuruike.

Concluding his testimony at the continuation of hearing in the matter, Ndolo insisted that his signature was forged by the accused persons.

Ndolo, who is the chief witness in the forgery case, said he had left the CCM since 2011 and was a member of the Anglican Church at the time his signature was allegedly appended on various documents by the accused persons in 2014.

The cleric said he was taking an examination at the Institute of Theology and Mission, Enugu, at the time the meeting was purported to have held.

Ndolo told the court that the General Overseer acknowledged his resignation letter, when he quit as a member of the CCM in 2011.

He explained that, although he was the national secretary of the CCM, and one of the church’s trustees during his time in the church, he resigned both positions even before he finally left the church.