The Federal Government has arraigned Obinna Uzor and his counsel, Eziafa Enwedo before the Federal High Court in Abuja over alleged forgery of court documents and judgment with the intention of removing Ifeanyi Ubah from office as the senator representing Anambra South in the 9th National Assembly. Both, however, pleaded not guilty to the 6-count charge.
The prosecution counsel, Affam Osigwe, told the court that the defendants, by their action, committed an offence contrary to Section 3(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act CAP M17 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and punishable under section subsection one and two of the same act.
Defence counsel, Chukwudi Igwe, prayed for the court to grant Uzor bail but withdrew his application for bail in respect of Eziafa Enwedo.
The Prosecution Counsel, Mazi Afam Osigwe, in opposition told the court not to allow the defendants counsel to orally apply for bail that Uzoh was at large and deliberately refused to make himself available for trial until he was declared wanted by the police.
In his ruling, Justice Okon Abang allowed Eziafa Samuel to continue on his existing bail granted to him on March 19. The court, however, ordered that Uzor should be remanded in police custody till July 6 when his formal bail application will be heard.
Justice Abang also directed that the police should call the Nigeria Center for Disease Control, NCDC, to carry out COVID-19 test on Eziafa and submit the test result to the court before the adjourned date before remanding him in a correctional centre.
Others cited as defendants at large, in the charge are Anani Anacletus Chuka, Aroh Ifunanya, and Faith Samuel.
The trial has been adjourned to July 6.
Previously, Justice Bello Kawu of the Abuja High Court at Kubwa had on April 11, 2019, sacked Ubah from the Senate over the allegation that he used a forged National Examinations Council, NECO, certificate to contest the senatorial election that held in Anambra South on February 23, 2019.
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Justice Kawu directed the INEC to withdraw the certificate of return it issued to Ubah and issue a fresh one to Dr. Obinna Uzoh of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who came 2nd in the election.
However, Ubah, who contended that he was neither joined as a party nor served with any process with respect to the suit, subsequently persuaded the Court of Appeal in Abuja to set aside the judgment he said was obtained against him fraudulently, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court.
The FCT High Court has sacked three of its staff members and demoted three others over their alleged complicity in forgery of the court’s processes and fabricated judgment that was sought to be used in removing Ubah from the Senate.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
