N5.3bn fraud: Court orders Nnamani”s arrest

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, who was charged with an alleged N5.3bn fraud.

The Court headed by Justice Chuka Obiozor issued the bench warrant against the Nnamani for failing to appear in court on Monday for his trial.

The court held that Nnamani’s counsel failed to give any cogent and tenable reason why his client was absent from court.

It would be recalled that when the case was mentioned last Thursday, a lawyer M. Bamidele from the law firm of Ricky Tarfa who represented the defendant told the court that, his chamber was served with hearing notice six days ago, but the time was too short for Chimaroke Nnamani to be in court as the defendant was not in the country and they have not been able to get in touch with him.

The prosecutor Kelvin Uzozie was also not in court, but wrote a letter to the court asking for adjournment, consequently the court adjourned till 4th of December, 2017, when the former Governor would be arraigned.

The court also asked counsel to take steps to make sure that his client come back to face trial, thereafter Justice Obiozor adjourned till 4th and 14th of December, 2017 for arraignment and trial.

This fresh arraignment is coming ten years after the ex-governor and others were first arraigned before the court in connection with the alleged offence.