Ebonyi Assembly chief whip arraigned over certificate forgery

The Chief Whip of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly,
Chike Ogiji, was on Friday arraigned by the police before a
Magistrate Court in the Abakaliki district for alleged certificate
forgery.

Mr Ogiji, who represents Ikwo South constituency, was arraigned
on a four-count charge bordering on swearing of false affidavit and
forgery of exam papers and primary school testimonial.

After the charges were read to him, Mr Ogiji pleaded not
guilty.

His counsel, Emeka Odom, then urged the court to grant him bail.
He argued that the lawmaker is presumed innocent ”at this stage
until proven guilty”.

“The fundamental issue in this application for bail is to ensure
that he is available to face trial. We urge this court to admit him
bail on self recognition. He is a person of repute and he is
representing Ikwo South constituency in the House of Assembly, he
is also the Chief Whip of the Assembly,” Mr Emeka added.

“The accused is enjoying police administrative bail and is so
religious in granting ‘police interview’. He came from police to
this court, manifesting the respect he has for the law of the
nation,” the counsel said.

But the prosecutor, Peter Amadi, objected to the bail
application urging the court to dismiss it.

In his ruling, the judge, Stella Ogoke, granted the accused bail
in the sum of N20,000.

He (accused) is also to provide one surety who must be a civil
servant or a businessman based in the jurisdiction of the court and
who must tender a valid identification.

The matter was adjourned June 11 for trial.

The Chief Whip of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly,
Chike Ogiji, was on Friday arraigned by the police before a
Magistrate Court in the Abakaliki district for alleged certificate
forgery.

Mr Ogiji, who represents Ikwo South constituency, was arraigned
on a four-count charge bordering on swearing of false affidavit and
forgery of exam papers and primary school testimonial.

After the charges were read to him, Mr Ogiji pleaded not
guilty.

His counsel, Emeka Odom, then urged the court to grant him bail.
He argued that the lawmaker is presumed innocent ”at this stage
until proven guilty”.

“The fundamental issue in this application for bail is to ensure
that he is available to face trial. We urge this court to admit him
bail on self recognition. He is a person of repute and he is
representing Ikwo South constituency in the House of Assembly, he
is also the Chief Whip of the Assembly,” Mr Emeka added.

“The accused is enjoying police administrative bail and is so
religious in granting ‘police interview’. He came from police to
this court, manifesting the respect he has for the law of the
nation,” the counsel said.

But the prosecutor, Peter Amadi, objected to the bail
application urging the court to dismiss it.

In his ruling, the judge, Stella Ogoke, granted the accused bail
in the sum of N20,000.

He (accused) is also to provide one surety who must be a civil
servant or a businessman based in the jurisdiction of the court and
who must tender a valid identification.

The matter was adjourned June 11 for trial.