Businessman arraigned for forging N150,000 cheque.

The police on Monday arraigned a businessman, Thompson Ekwa, for allegedly forging a Zenith Bank cheque and attempting to steal N150,000.

Ekwa, 45, is standing trial before a Surulere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos on a four-count charge of conspiracy, forgery and attempting to steal.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Samuel Ishola, told the court that the accused presented the cheque at the Zenith Bank, Ogunlana Drive, Surulere branch, on an unspecified date

Ishola said that Ekwa allegedly forged the signature of Mr Udeme Essiemunoh, a customer of Zenith Bank, on the cheque.

The accused claims that a friend of his gave him the cheque to present to the bank, but Essiemunoh denied giving anybody his cheque, `` Ishola said.

He said that the accused forged the Zenith bank cheque in an attempt to steal the sum of N150, 000 belonging to the bank.

Ishola submitted that the offence contravened Sections 467, 468, 509 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr M.K.O Fadeyi granted him bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case till Jan. 21, 2011 for trial.