Ex Imo Gov, Ohakim to lead evidence against Abuja house wife, Igwegbe over alleged threat to life Nov 4.
An Abuja high court has fixed November 4 for former Imo state governor, Dr Ikedi Ohakim to lead evidence against an Abuja socialite, Mrs Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe in the criminal charges of threat to life and blackmail brought against her.
The court fixed the date to enable the Inspector General of Police (IGP) kick start the trial of Mrs Igwegbe in the charges of unlawfully furnishing police with false information against the former governor and one Chinedu Okpareke.
Although the prosecution of the four count charges was slated for October 28, the trial Judge, Justice Halilu Yusuf was said to have travelled out of Abuja for official engagement.
Counsel to the Inspector General of Police, Mrs Rachel Dimka and that of the accused person, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Nweze agreed with the court registrar for November 4 trial.
The Inspector General of Police IGP had on July 22 arraigned Mrs Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe for allegedly furnishing the police authorities with false information against Dr. Ikedi Ohakim and one, Chinedu Okpareke.
The Police docked the woman on four-count charge bordering on allegations of criminal conspiracy, intimidation, defamation of character, attempted kidnapping and threat to life punishable with imprisonment for failing to substantiate the allegations and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.
Count one of the four count charge reads, “That you Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe ‘F’ of 7B Emelda Estate Apo, Abuja, FCT on or about the 14th August 2020 within the Jurisdiction of this honorable court did furnish police authorities with false information and via allegations in a petition by your solicitors, Agala & Agala Chambers to a public servant against Dr Ikedi Ohakim and Chinedu Okpareke on allegations of criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, defamation of character, attempted kidnapping and threat to life, punishable with imprisonment, which could not be substantiated and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria”.
Count two reads, “That you Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe ‘F’ of 7B Emelda Estate Apo, Abuja, FCT sometime in 2020 within the Jurisdiction of this honorable court did furnish police authorities with false information and via allegations in a petition by your solicitors, Agala & Agala Chambers to a public servant against Dr Ikedi Ohakim on the false allegations that you paid Dr Ikedi Ohakim the sum of N500 million only for the purchase of a land in Lagos during the 2019 election, punishable with imprisonment, which could not be substantiated and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 140 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.
In count three, the police accused the defendant of intentionally exposing her genital organs and caused distress to other parties and that you did so with a selfie video with intention of deriving sexual pleasure from such act and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 26(3) of the violence against persons (Prohibition) Act 2015
Count four reads, “That you Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe ‘F’ of 7B Emelda Estate Apo, Abuja, FCT severally and repeatedly within the Jurisdiction of this honorable court by spoken words and mechanical means which you intended to be read published directly and indirectly in the estimation of others, lowered the moral and intellectual character of Dr Ikedi Ohakim and Chinedu Okpareke that your words and actions were so loathsome and disgraceful that you hurt the feelings of their family and relatives and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria”.
The defendant had however pleaded not guilty to the four-counts charge when they were read out to her.
Justice Yusuf Halilu had upon the arraignment admitted her to bail with two sureties who must be resident in Abuja.
The two sureties, the Judge had held, must have regular income and shall produce the defendant in court for her trial until it is fully dispensed off.
The woman was ordered to deposit her international passports with the court and can only travel out of the country with the permission of the court.