On Thursday, an Abia State Magistrate Court in Umuahia convicted the immediate past Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, of forgery and ordered his arrest and committal to any state Correctional Center.
The All Progressives Congress filed a criminal complaint against Dr. Ogah in suit No. UMSC/362/2022, alleging that he did not participate in the party's governorship primary election on May 26, 2022, but instead forged the party's direct primary election result sheet "with intent that it may be acted on as genuine."
According to the complainant, Ogah's forgery was detrimental to the party and its legitimate governorship candidate in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, “thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code (as applicable in Abia) and punishable under Section 467.”
Delivering her judgment, the Presiding Magistrate Ngozi N. Nwangwa held that the defendant/respondent “is guilty as charged”, adding, “I am convinced that the defendant has no defence”.
“I, hereby, commit Dr Uche Ogah for the offence as charged,” she said.
The Presiding Magistrate, therefore, ordered security agencies to arrest him any where he is found and keep him in the nearest correctional centre pending the day he would be brought to court for sentencing.
Oga had consistently been absent in the court.
In a written affidavit, the State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avaja, PW1 had tendered six exhibits on allegation of forgery numbered “A – F” against Dr. Ogah and which the party Counsel, Barr Vigilus Nwankwo described as documents that are “unchallenged and incontrovertible evidence” by the respondents.
Ogah could not be reached for his comment.