November 21, (THEWILL) – A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Bwari, Abuja, on Monday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a factional leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Edozie Njoku.
Njoku and one Chukwuemeka Nwoga, are been charged with alleged forgery of a Supreme Court judgment as well as the letterheaded paper of retired Justice Mary Peter-Odili.
Following the filing of a 14-count criminal charge against them by the Inspector General of Police (IG), the court had scheduled Monday, November 21, for their arraignment.
When the matter was called, the prosecution counsel, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Rimamsonte Ezekiel, informed the court that the defendants have been served and are aware of their arraignment today (Monday) but did not show up in court.
He, therefore, urged the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the two defendants, to compel their appearance in court to defend the allegations against them.
Despite the objection of the defendant’s lawyer, the court subsequently held that the actions of the defendants were deliberate and intentional hence, the request of the prosecution should be granted.
He accordingly made an order for the arrest of the defendants and adjourned to Monday, November 28, for the arraignment of the defendants.
In the charge marked: CR/12/2022 and dated October 21, the defendants were accused of conspiring with others to forge the judgment of the Supreme Court.
Count 10 read: “That you Chief Edozie Njoku, Chukwuemeka Nwoga on or about June 30, 2022, in Abuja and others now at large dishonesty and deliberately forged the judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in suit number: SC/CV/686/2021, with the name of Chief Edozie Njoku as the 2nd respondents knowing that he was not a party to the case, using same as a genuine judgment of the court with intent to mislead members of the public and ridiculing the judicial system of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby committed an offence punishable under section 366 penal code law.
Count 11, “That you Chief Edozie Njoku on or about July 18, 2022, and about 10.30 am at the Force Headquarters of Nigeria Police Force, Area 11, Abuja and other places paraded and personating yourself as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance which you know the act to be false and criminal, thereby committing an offence which is punishable under section 179 of the penal code.”
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