Alleged forgery: FG slams 11-count charge against two Leadership journalists

[PeoplesDaily]

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

The federal government yesterday filled a fresh charge against two Leadership journalists, Mr Tony Amokeodo (the Group News Editor) and Mr. Chibuzor Ukaibe (Political Correspondent).

The federal government which withdrew an alleged forgery charge against the two Leadership journalists about two months ago made a U-turn and re-filed the case before an Abuja High Court in Kubwa.

The lead counsel to the federal government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had on Friday filed an 11–count charge of alleged forgery of presidential directive against Amokeodo, Ukaibe and Leadership Group Ltd before Justice U. A Musale.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a Federal High Court in Abuja had on May 2, 2013, struck out the forgery case, following the withdrawal of a-six count charge by Awomolo.

The development was sequel to the notice of preliminary objection

filed by the lawyer to the Leadership journalists, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

But in a new twist, the federal government had approached an Abuja High Court through an ex-parte application on Friday, May 19, 2013, seeking the leave of the court to prefer a charge against the journalists.

After listening to the argument by a lawyer from Awomolo's chambers, Mrs F. Folorunso, Justice Musale granted the request of the government.

The judge consequently adjourned the case till Thursday, June 27, 2013 for the arraignment of the two Leadership journalists.

Count one of ther 11-count charge states: "That you Tony Agboola Amokeodo, Chuibuzor Ukaibe, Leadership Group Ltd, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory, under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forged a document titled 'Presidential Directive' having on it the Seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published on the front page of Leadership Newspaper of 3rd day of April, 2013, intended by you to be understood to be the seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the intent of the document purported it to be the directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

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