Leadership Reporters Face Forgery Charge

The arraignment of two journalists charged with forging President Goodluck Jonathan’s signature was yesterday stalled at the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Tony Amokeode and Chibuzor Ukaibe of the Leadership Newspaper, who were docked, are accused of making a false document bearing fake sign manual purported to be Jonathan’s signature.

However, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola adjourned the matter to April 23 for the suspects to take their plea due to the inability of the prosecution to serve them earlier with the process.

Ademola said the arraignment could not go on yesterday because it was obvious that the prosecution had not served the suspects with the process.

“Having listened to the prosecution and the defendant counsel, the best thing to do is to allow the suspects to go home and return on the adjourned date.

“The arguments on the bail application earlier taken are to the best of my knowledge premature as the suspects have not been arraigned.

“The suspects are again released conditionally to the Company Secretary, Mr Umar Jibril, who is mandated to produce them on the next date.

“The prosecution is therefore mandated to furnish the court and all parties with the charge, list of witnesses, statement of witnesses, proof of evidence and exhibits,’’ he said.

Mr Joseph Nwadike, the prosecutor, informed the court of a pending amended charge.

“My Lord, we will like the court to be aware of an amended charge meant to replace the one before the court at the moment.”

However, Mr Samuel Ogala, the counsel to the first and second suspects, said the prosecution was not diligent in his prosecution, adding that his clients were hurriedly brought to court.

Ogala had filed an oral application for bail which was vehemently opposed by the prosecutor.

He submitted that the application was brought pursuant to Sections 118 (2) of the Criminal Procedure Act and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.

“The bail is desirable at the instance of the adjournment sought by the prosecution, it will be in the interest of justice not to allow the suspects stay in detention any further,” he said.

Nwadike urged the court to discountenance the relief sought by Ogala, saying that a Supreme Court decision had put the suspects’ claim to rest.

“The suspects have rights to bail, but the Supreme Court has held that issues bordering on human rights shall be waived if the offence is felony,” he said.

The prosecution among other things, alleged that Amokeodo, Ukaibe, and Taiwo Omilani now at large, on April 3 did knowingly and fraudulently forged a document titled “Bromide of the Presidential Directive” on the front page of leadership.

According to the prosecution, the document bears the seal of the President as Presidential Directive.

The Prosecution alleged that the suspects thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 468 of the Criminal Code Act Cap ‘C 38 Laws of the Federation 2004.