Bench warrant issued against APGA factional leader over S/Court’s judgement

An FCT High Court has issued a bench warrant against the factional leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Edozie Njoku.

Justice Mohammed Madugu, on Monday, held that Edozie and his co-defendant, Chukwuemeka Nwoga, did not provide any cogent reason for their absence in court despite being notified of the case.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) had filed 14-count criminal charges against Njoku and Nwoga bordering on alleged forgery of a Supreme Court judgment and the letter-headed paper of retired Justice Mary Peter-Odili and impersonation of the national chairman of APGA.

The police further alleged that the defendants on May 6, 2022 “dishonestly and intentionally” wrote to Justice Odili to insert the name of Njoku as the 2nd respondent in the case of Chief Jude Okeke vs APGA and others in suit No:SC/CV/686/2021 delivered on October 14, 2021.

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Earlier, the prosecution lawyer, Rimamsonte Ezekiel, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), informed the court that the defendants were served and are aware of their arraignment but did not show up in court.

The police officer accordingly asked the court to issue a bench warrant for their arrest to compel their appearance in court to defend the allegations against them.

But the defendants’ lawyer, Panam Ntui, objected to the oral application for a bench warrant against his clients, explaining that Njoku is currently outside the jurisdiction of the court in Imo State.

While pleading for a short adjournment, he submitted that the defendants had not been served personally as required by law.

The case has been adjourned to November 28 for arraignment.