A senior lawyer and Pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Mr. Leslie Victor Michael-Atata has been arraigned at the Federal High Court sitting at Ikoyi, Lagos for alleged forgery, impersonation and fraudulent misrepresentation.

The arraignment of the embattled senior lawyer and pastor took place on 29th November, 2024 following a criminal complaint to the Police by the law office of Legal Answers LLP on behalf of the nominal complainant, Feljohn Nig. Limited.

The case is listed as Charge Number FHC/ L/ 903C/2024, Inspector General of Police V. Leslie Victor Chizi Michael-Atata & Viktor AG. Ltd.

Count 2 of the three-count charge seen by CITY LAWYER reads: “That you LESLIE VICTOR CHIZI MICHAELS-ATATA ‘M’ and VIKTOR AG. LTD. sometimes 1993 (sic) in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did impersonate the company secretary of FELJOHN NIGERIA LIMITED and forged the signature of one Dr. Felix Wigwe and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 1(1)(c) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 LFN 2004.”

Count 3 of the charge reads: “That you LESLIE VICTOR CHIZI MICAHELS-ATATA ‘M’ and VIKTOR AG. LTD. sometimes 1993 (sic) in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did fraudulently misrepresent as the Secretary of FELJOHN NIGERIA LIMITED, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 484 of the Criminal Code Act, LFN 2004.”

At the arraignment of the defendants, their lawyer, Mr. James Ordu raised an objection to the jurisdiction of the court, arguing that the transaction took place in Port Harcourt while all the parties reside there.

He argued that the transaction between the parties had been determined by a competent court, adding that part of the judgment is now the subject of a pending appeal at the Court of Appeal.

He also contended that the Commissioner of Police had granted the 1st defendant an administrative bail which is still subsisting. He therefore urged the court to strike out the charge.

This was however countered by Mr. Samuel Ogala, the Prosecutor, who argued that where a transaction has both civil and criminal elements, both the civil and criminal cases can be pursued simultaneously.

He contended that the nominal complainant also lives in Lagos, adding that the alleged offences were committed in Nigeria as per the wording of the charge.

He also stated that he was duly mandated by his office to prosecute the defendants, adding that the issue of jurisdiction does not arise as the Police has unlimited jurisdiction pursuant to Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution and Sections 4 and 66 of the Police Act 2020.

In his ruling, Justice Ibrahim Kala held as follows: “I have looked into the 3 counts charges levelled against the defendants. It relates to conspiracy, impersonation and fraudulent misrepresentation. It is no where stated in the counts charges where these alleged offences occurred. Beside, they are offences charged under the provision of the Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004 as well as Miscellaneous Offences Act, Cap M17, LFN, 2004. These are provisions that are not peculiar to any particular state. I therefore overrule the defendant’s argument on that point.” The court then ordered that the charge be read to the defendants for which they pleaded ‘Not Guilty.’

Ogala applied that the 1st defendant should be remanded in prison custody, a position objected to by Ordu who pleaded with the court to grant the defendant bail, arguing that “The 1st Defendant has a pedigree as a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) of over 40 years.” He also argued that the 1st defendant has medical conditions which warrant the grant of bail.

The court held that it had considered that the 1st Defendant is “a senior member of the (legal) profession.” Justice Kala then granted him bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in the like sum, adding that “The surety shall have ownership of landed property in either Lagos or Ogun State worth N50 Million which title document be deposited at the registry of this Hon. Court or shall surrender the qualifying and Call to Bar Original Certificates to the registry of the court.”

Justice Kala also ordered as follows: “The 2 recent passport photos, BVN, NIN, Phone Numbers of 1st Defendant as well as the Surety should be deposited at the Registry of this court after being duly verified by Registrars of this Court in conjunction with the agent of prosecution.”

The case was adjourned to 20th February, 2025 for trial of the defendants.

According to the complaint by Legal Answers LLP, the 1st Defendant fraudulently converted No. 1 Kaduna Street, D/Line, Port Harcourt, a property sold to Baldwyne Holdings Limited by Feljohn Nigeria Limited though he allegedly knew of the sale but “capitalized on his privileged position as our Client’s legal practitioner and secretary and began to covet and lay claims on the same property by fraudulently obtaining a sublease of the property using his company Viktor AG Limited.”

• First defendant in the dock

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