The Federal Government through the Nigerian Police Force has declared Obinna Uzoh, Anani Cletus, Ifunanya Aroh and Faith Samuel wanted in relation to offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, forgery and perjury, falsification of facts and falsification of court judgement to clandestinely remove Senator Ifeanyi Ubah from office as the Senator representing Anambra South in the Ninth National Assembly.
Pursuant to a warrant of arrest issued by a Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja, in a special police gazette bulletin: CR:300/X/LEG/ , FHQ/ABJ/VOL.8/56 published by the central criminal registry of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department(FCIID), the Police requested anyone with useful information on the whereabouts of the suspects to arrest and handover the suspects to the nearest Police Station or the legal prosecution section of the FCIID, or call 08125151772.
In a related development, in charge no:FHC/ABJ/CR/78/2020 between the Federal Government and Eziafa Samuel which came up for trial before Honorable Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja, the defendant; Eziafa Samuel is currently standing trial for conspiracy and forgery of court documents in an alleged cloned suit: CV/3044/2018 which was obtained clandestinely to oust Senator Ifeanyi Ubah from office.
At the last sitting on Friday; June 26th, 2020, the defendant; Eziafa Samuel applied to the court to adjourn the matter on the basis that he was ill. The court in a considered ruling dismissed his application on the basis that there was no affidavit and medical evidence before the court. The Court thereafter adjourned the case to Monday; June 29th, 2020.
At the resumed hearing today, the prosecution counsel brought to the knowledge of the court, the absence of the defendant and posited that the action of the defendant is a deliberate attempt to stall trial; an action which is a breach of his undertaking to attend trial on bail and disrespect to the authority of the court. Pursuant to section 184 ACJA, the prosecution counsel applied for the arrest of the defendant and for his sureties to appear before the court and show cause why their bail bond shouldn’t be forfeited to the Federal Government.
In a considered ruling, the Court held that there was no cogent reason for the absence of the defendant which is a challenge to the authority of the court. The court noted that it has the power to issue a bench warrant for arrest of the defendant, but that it would decline to issue a warrant at this stage and give the defendant another opportunity to appear in court for his trial on Thursday July 2,2020. The matter was therefore adjourned to Thursday; July 2, 2020.
