In an apparent move to thwart the warrant of arrest
issued against him by a Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia state, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress
(APC) in the state, Prince Benjamin Benedict Apugo has asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,
Abuja to transfer the case brought
against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The application
dated 12 August 2016, is coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest issued by
Justice D.E. Osiagor on 4 July, 2016.
A previous warrant
was issued for the arrest of the defendant on 8 October ,2015 by Justice
F.A. Olubanjo after he failed to appear before the court on same charge.
Apugo
who was due to be arraigned in June 2015 on a three-count charge
bordering on obtaining money by false pretense was alleged to
have fraudulently sold six (6) plots of land valued at N36m belonging to the
Nigeria Railway Corporation located at Umunwulari Nkata Ibeku layout, Planning
Scheme Umuahia, to the petitioner sometime in March 2013.
The
defendant has been elusive after being released on administrative bail
by the EFCC.
He
had through his counsel Professor Earnest Ojukwu, SAN tried to frustrate the
case on three instances either by applying for the quashing or the transfer of
the case to another judge.
After Justice
Olubanjo was transferred and Justice Evelyn Anyadike took over the matter,
Barrister Ojukwu moved a motion to quash the charge and set aside the bench
warrant which was refused. Not deterred, the defendant petitioned the Chief Judge, claiming he had lost
confidence in the judge.
Based
on the petition, the Chief Judge transferred the case to Justice Osiagor who
heard the two applications, and in considered ruling dismissed application to
quash the charge and suspend the bench warrant.
He however ordered
the defendant to appear before him pursuant to Section 87 of the Administration
of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 on the next adjourned date.
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