Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 17, 2022 for the arraignment of former governor of Imo state, Ikedi Ohakim.
The federal government is prosecuting Ohakim and Chinedu Okpaleke for allegedly threatening to release nude photographs of Abuja-based Chinyere Amuchienwa, if she failed to drop charges of attempted kidnap against them.
The police had relied on Amuchienwa’s petition to file criminal charge No. FHC/ABJ/CS/287/2020 against the duo but discovered that the petition was false and misleading.
It however failed to withdraw the charge from court because the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice had applied to take over the matter.
On September 27, Justice Taiwo ruled that the AGF had unfettered power to take over the case.
At a resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, A. K Alilu, an Assistant Director, Public Prosecution of the Federation announced an appearance for the AGF, while Emeka Etiaba SAN appeared for the 1st defendant.
Kenneth C.O, SAN represented the 2nd defendant and Ifeanyi Nwaeze held brief for Amuchienwa.
Etiaba apologized to the court that his client was absent because he was in isolation due to the Omicron COVID-19 variant, having returned from South Africa.
Counsel to Ohakim also apologised for Ohakim’s inability to be in court, citing health reasons.
Reacting, the prosecution counsel said the matter was “intentionally being stalled from going on because nobody informed the prosecution of all these developments”.
Ruling, Justice Taiwo held that the COVID-19 is not an issue to play with.
In view of the application of the defendants, the court adjourned to January 17, 2022, for Ohakim and Okpaleke to be arraigned.
In the five-count charge dated November 25, 2020, the police had alleged that Ohakim and Okpareke, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication through a computer system to harass and bully Amuchienwa, an offence that is punishable under Section 24(1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
Some of the charges read, “That you Chinendu Okpareke ‘m’ 49, and Ikedi Ohakim ‘m’ and others now at large on Aug. 13, 2020, within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves by knowingly and intentionally sending messages by means of computer system or network in a grossly offensive, pornographic, nude of an indecent obscene and menacing character of one Chinyere Amuchienwa ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
“That you Chinendu Okpareke ‘m’ 49, and Ikedi Ohakim ‘m’ and others now at large on Aug. 13, 2020, within the jurisdiction of this court did conspire among yourselves to cause annoyance and criminal intimidation to one Chinyere Amuchienwa ‘f’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 27 (1)(a) of the Cybercrime Act 2015.”
