Again, FG Drags Two LEADERSHIP Journalists To Court

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24, (THEWILL) – In what appeared as a dramatic twist to the alleged forgery case between the Federal Government and two journalists working with LEADERSHIP Newspaper - Mr. Tony Amokeodo (the Group News Editor) and Mr. Chibuzor Ukaibe (Political Correspondent) - the Federal Government, on Monday, in an apparent volte-face, dragged the journalists to court again as it re-filed the 11-count charge against them before an Abuja High Court sitting in Kubwa.

The new development is coming almost two months after the Federal Government withdrew the case as the lead counsel to the Federal Government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), on Friday, re- filed the charge of alleged forgery of presidential directive against Amokeodo, Ukaibe and LEADERSHIP Group Ltd before Justice U A Musale.

A court bailiff, accompanied by lawyers from Awomolo’s chambers, Monday, at about 2.45pm, served the new charge against the two journalists at the LEADERSHIP’s office in Abuja.

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

The dismissal was based on the notice of preliminary objection filed by the counsel to the LEADERSHIP journalists, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), who argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the charge.

However, the Federal Government had through Awomolo, approached Justice Musale of an Abuja High Court through an ex-parte application on Friday, May 19, 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 for the arraignment of the two LEADERSHIP journalists.

The 11-count charge is as follows:
COUNT 1: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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.

COUNT 2: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 commit an offence 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 that, made by the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 365 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 3: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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: making a false document titled PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE on a letter head purporting same to be a document made from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, knowing it to be false and with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of the President and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 4: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 make a false document titled PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE on a letter head, purporting same to be a document from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013 knowing it to be false and with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 363 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 5: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 Charge Sheet / FRN V. Tany Amokeada 2 I P age wit: dishonestly using as genuine a false document titled PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE with the seal of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purporting same to be a document made or issued by the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, for the consumption of the general public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 6: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 dishonestly use as genuine a false document titled 'PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE' with the seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purporting same to be the document made or issued by the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, for the consumption of the general public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 7: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 to commit an offence to wit: attempted to excite feelings of disaffection against the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the false document published by you on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, titled 'PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE' which document was intended by you to excite feelings of disaffection and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 8: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja Charge Sheet / FRN V. Tony Amokeodo 3 I P age within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit an offence to wit: attempted to excite feelings of disaffection against the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the false document published by you on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, titled 'PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE' which document was intended by you to excite feelings of disaffection and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provision Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 9: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 to commit an offence to wit: Publishing a statement titled 'PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE' which you have reason to believe to be false with intent to cause alarm to the public whereby members of the public may be induced to commit an offence against public peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 10: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 commit an offence to wit: Publishing a statement titled 'PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE' which you have reason to believe to be false with intent to cause alarm to the public whereby members of the public may be induced to commit an offence against public peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 418 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provision Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

COUNT 11: That you TONY AGBOOLA AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, 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 commit an offence to wit: Having in your possession without lawful excuse a document titled 'PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE', the publication of which is capable of exciting feelings of disaffection against the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provision Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.