AGF takes over trial of Abuja woman, Chinyere Igwegbe over alleged threat to life of ex-Imo gov, Ohakim.
The trial of an Abuja business woman, Chinyere Igwegbe on alleged criminal intimidation, blackmail and threat to life of a former governor of Imo state, Dr Ikedi Ohakim has been shifted to February 10 next year.
A high court of the Federal Capital Territory FCT shifted the trial following the formal taking over of the trial by the Attorney General of the Federation AGF, Malam Abubakar Malami.
When the matter came up, a lawyer from the AGF’s office, Mr Bagudu Sanni informed the court that the AGF has just taken over the matter and will need time to study the case file.
But counsel to the Inspector General of Police Mrs Rotshang Dimka, earlier billed to handle the trial on behalf of police however in a letter informed the court that she was on a special police training course outside the jurisdiction of the court .
Counsel to the woman, Mr ifeanyi Nwese in his own,moved an oral application praying the court to dismiss the criminal charge against his client.
In a brief ruling, the trial Judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu while refusing the oral application for dismissal by the defence counsel held that such application must be done in writing.
The Judge granted an adjournment application sought by AGF and sounded a warning that the case should be handled diligently.
The court thereafter fixed 10th of February 2022 for trial .
It will be recalled that at the last sitting when the former governor was billed to give evidence in chief, the proceedings were disrupted following two conflicting letters from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
In one of the letters, the AGF was said to have indicated interest to take over the trial of the woman while the second one disowned the letter prompting the Judge to shelve the evidence of the former governor.
The charges against Mrs Igwegbe were in relation to her feud with former governor Ikedi Ohakim, of Imo State who accused her of blackmailing him and defaming his character.
She was arrested, detained and arraigned by police before the high court on a four-count charge in July 2021.
In the charge, the defendant was alleged to have failed to substantiate her allegations of criminal conspiracy, intimidation, defamation of character, attempted kidnapping and threat to life she had made against Ohakim in a petition.