By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA — A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory at Maitama has ordered the issuance of a hearing notice for the resumption of trial of a member of the House of Representatives, Amobi Ogah, who is facing trial for allegedly making a false declaration in an affidavit he filed in court.
The lawmaker, who represents the Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency in Abia State, is answering to a five-count charge that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, preferred against him.
The defendant, who was initially remanded in prison custody by the court, had pleaded not guilty to the allegation.
The court, presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu, fixed October 6 for the continuation of hearing in the case.
In the charge marked CR/650/2024, the office of the AGF specifically accused the Abia lawmaker of offences bordering on alleged criminal defamation and false declaration.
In count one, he was alleged to have made a false declaration, sometime in May 2023, in an affidavit dated May 18, 2023, at the registry of the FCT High Court, Abuja, against Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, then Minister of State for Labour and Employment.
The defendant allegedly claimed that, during a meeting with her supporters at her residence, she told them she had “bought over” the tribunal judges, particularly Hon. Justice Halima Saleeman.
The charge stated that the defendant knew the allegation was false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 164 of the Penal Code, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1963, punishable under Section 158(2) of the same Act.
He was also accused of making another false and defamatory declaration in the same affidavit, alleging that the former minister had influenced the removal of the former chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice Halilu, to pave the way for Hon. Justice Halima Saleeman, whom she allegedly knew personally and who would deliver judgment in her favour.
The prosecution alleged that the statement was false and constituted an offence contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1963, punishable under Section 392 of the same Act.
One of the counts in the charge read: “That you, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, male, 44 years, a member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, sometime in May 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court in the FCT, Abuja, committed an offence by making a false declaration against Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Federal Republic of Nigeria, with intent to destroy her reputation, as a result of which she suffered harm to her reputation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under the same section of the Act.”
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