IGBEKE'S CASE FILE STILL WITH JUDGE

By NBF News

The case file containing the two-count charges against Senator Alphonus Uba Igbeke (Anambra North) by the Federal Government still lies on the table of Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, and has not been assigned to any particularj for trial.

Checks by Sunday Sun at the registry of the court revealed that the matter had not been assigned to a particular judge after the case was filed. Senator Igbeke was charged before a Federal High Court for forging the result of the senatorial primary election of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the zone. An Abuja Magistrate's Court had earlier issued a warrant for the arrest of the senator over a similar crime, but the warrant, which allowed the arrest of Igbeke, was later discharged by the court.

The two-count charge with No. FHC/ABJ/CR/44/11 dated May 24, 2011, was initiated and filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation [AGF] and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke Bello [SAN].

The charge sheet endorsed by a Director from the office of the AGF, Mrs. O.O.Fatunde, reads:

•That you, Alphonsus Uba Igbeke [m] on January 21, 2011, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria, did forge a document described as the senatorial primary result sheet for the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] of Anambra North zone, knowing it to be false to wit: you falsely represented the votes scored by the aspirants as follows: John Emeka Jnr -156; Chief A. Igbeke - 1173; Chief Denis Odife - 15; Hon. Uzoka Okwudili - 34; Hon. Celestine Ughanze - 297 and Chief Tony Nnacheta - 25, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 [2] [c] of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under section 1[2] of the same Act.

•That you, Alphonsus Uba Igbeke [m] on January 21, 2011, in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria, did a forge a document described as the senatorial primary result sheet for the PDP of Anambra North zone knowing it to be false to wit: you falsely represented the votes scored by the aspirants as follows: John Emeka Jnr -156; Chief A. Igbeke - 1173; Chief Denis Odife - 15; Hon. Uzoka Okwudili - 34; Hon. Celestine Ughanze - 297 and Chief Tony Nnacheta - 25, with intent that it may be used by yourself to buttress your prayer to the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/189/2011 to be declared winner of the senatorial party primary to the prejudice of John Emeka, the real winner, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 [2] [c] of the Miscellaneous Offences Act 2004 and punishable under section 1[2] of the same Act.

No date has been fixed for his arraignment, but sources at the justice Ministry told Sunday Sun that it would take place before the end of this month.