Section 480: A. Unlawful inquires relating to the possibility of forgery

(1) Any person who, without lawful authority or excuse, the proof of which lies on him,
either orally or in writing makes inquiries of any other person, whether in Nigeria or at
any place not in Nigeria‐
(a) as to the cost of obtaining or the cost of supplying or as to obtaining or supplying
any machinery or instrument or material for the making of any paper or capable of
producing in or on any paper any words, figures, letters, marks or lines resembling any
words, figures, letters, marks or lines used in or on paper specially provided for any
purpose mentioned in paragraph (1) of section 480 of this Code; or
(b) as to the cost of printing or otherwise reproducing or as to printing or otherwise
reproducing any document referred to in subsection (1) of section 480 of this Code; no
matter by what name such document may be referred to; or
(c) as to whether such other person or any other person is prepared to print or
otherwise reproduce or would be prepared to print or otherwise reproduce any such
document as aforesaid; or
(d) as to whether such other person or any other person is prepared to obtain or would
be prepared to obtain any such document as aforesaid by any means other than
paying full value for the same,
is guilty of an offence and liable to imprisonment for one year.
(2) In the case of written inquiries in connection with any of the matters or subjects to
which subsection
(1) of this section relates, the fact that such inquiries were reduced into writing shall
be sufficient proof of an attempt to commit the offence and the offender shall be
subject to a like penalty as if he had committed the offence.