Alleged age falsification: Court declines to issue bench warrant against AIG, CPs
An FCT High Court has refused an application to issue bench warrants against five police officers accused of falsifying their ages to extend their service, following their absence in court for their arraignment. The 14-count charge was brought against Idowu Owohunwa, a retired Assistant Inspector General; Benneth Igwe, a retired Commissioner of Police; Ukachi Opara, […]
An FCT High Court has refused an application to issue bench warrants against five police officers accused of falsifying their ages to extend their service, following their absence in court for their arraignment.
The 14-count charge was brought against Idowu Owohunwa, a retired Assistant Inspector General; Benneth Igwe, a retired Commissioner of Police; Ukachi Opara, a retired Commissioner of Police; Obo Ukam Obo, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police; Simon Lough, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police; and others at large.
The officers had denied the charges.
Justice Yusuf Halilu on Thursday refused to grant the police request on the grounds that it would be premature, as the defendants have not been personally served with the criminal charges.
The judge noted that the police have the apparatus to arrest and bring the defendants to court to take their plea if they refuse to appear.
“You are the prosecutor, you should do all within your powers to ensure that the defendants attend court on the next adjourned date for arraignment,” Justice Halilu said.
Earlier, police counsel, Rimamsomte Ezekiel, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), expressed disappointment that the defendants were absent in court despite being aware of the matter after several efforts to serve them proved abortive, and they were sent the charges through their WhatsApp numbers.
He accordingly asked the court to issue a bench warrant against them in accordance with the provision of Section 266(1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.
However, Terkaa Aondo (SAN), who announced his appearance for the defendants, informed the court that none of the defendants had been served with a copy of the charge.
The matter was adjourned to November 17 for arraignment.