Two nationals from the African state of Sierra Leone charged with forgery and possession of ganja pleaded not guilty and were remanded in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday.

They are, Ademiyi Michael Ajijale, 27 and Emmanuel Oluwatsin Ajijale, 27, both from a Kingston 5 address. The men will return to court on October 11 for mention.

Allegations are that on September 21, about 11 a.m., the men attended the Passport Immigrations and Citizenship Agency at Constant Spring Road, St Andrew, to seek an extension on their stay in the island.

It is alleged that two Sierra Leone passports were submitted. However, when investigations were carried out it was found that the Jamaican landing stamps in the passports were forged.

Following this, the men were taken into custody and their home searched. The search revealed a quantity of green vegetable matter resembling ganja as well as other forged documents.

The court heard that the men who claim to be students to go by several names.

Attorney-at-law Peter Champagnie is representing them.