Alleged age falsification: Again 5 ex-senior officers failed to appear in court
Five former senior police officers charged with alleged age falsification, on Thursday, failed to appear for the third time for their arraignment before Justice Halilu Yusuf of an Abuja high court .
The five former senior police officers are: AIG Idowu Owohunwa, CP Benneth Igweh, CP Ukachi Opara ), DCP Obo Ukam Obo ), and ACP Simon Lough . They are listed as defendants in a 14-count charge brought against them by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
At the last sitting of the court, Justice Halilu had ordered the I-G do everything within his power to produce them for prosecution on charges against them. This followed submission by the prosecution counsel Rimamsomte Ezekiel, who expressed disappointment over the non appearance of the officers, in spite of being served with the charge.
When the case was called, the officers were not in court. Ezekiel told the court that the five officers had been served with the charge as required by law and that they were expected to be in court for their arraignment. My Lord, this is the third time they are going to be absent. Their counsel, Goddy Uche, SAN, should produce them at the next adjourned date,he prayed the court.
Responding, Counsel for the defendants, J. T Aondo, SAN told the court that his clients had not been swerved with the charge. This matter rests on esprit de Corps principles and the former IG, Mike Okiro is looking into the matter to see if it could be internally settled, he said. He told the court that he has a preliminary objection.
Responding, Ezekiel told the court that if the defendants were not served how then did they brief the counsel? After listening to both parties, the judge told the defendants’ counsel, to produce his clients in court for them to take their plea. Halilu added that after taking their plea, the court will take it up from there. He subsequently adjourned until the matter Nov. 17 for arraignment.
