By Hamilton Nwosa, (The New Diplomat’s Head, Data Tracking & Polls Desk)
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami on Thursday took over the prosecution trial of a former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, accused of harassing one Abuja-based business woman, named Mrs Chinyere Amuchienwa with a threat to release her nude pictures.
The case was originally filed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu at Federal High Court in Abuja.
The New Diplomat had reported that the police had also alleged that the former Imo State governor gave out wrong information, and also told misleading stories about Amuchienwa to the effect that she purportedly threatened him with a gun.
The hearing of the case continued in court, Thursday. However, there was mild drama when the matter was called as a counsel from the office of the AGF, Bagudu Sani, told the court that the AGF had taken over the prosecution of the case. Sani added that to the effect, a letter dated March 17, 2021, had been served on the Inspector General of Police to hands off on the case for the AGF office to take over.
“We shall formally file the letter so that the court would take judicial notice of it”, Sani told court.
But in his argument, Counsel to the IGP, Rufus Dimka, disagreed with the taking over of the case by the office of AGF. He argued that the charges brought against the former governor were prepared by the office of the IGP as the prosecutor in the case.
Ruling on the matter, the trial judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, asked Sani, counsel to the AGF office to file the letter formally before the court, noting he had taken judicial notice of the letter.
The judge adjourned the arraignment of the former governor to May 6, 2021, to enable parties file and serve written addresses on the propriety of the office of the AGF taking over the case from the Police.
Recall Ohakim and one Chinedu Okpareke have been on police administrative bail since November 11, 2020.
According to police charge sheet marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/287/2020, Ohakim and Okpareke were alleged to have threatened to release a nude photograph of Amuchienwa if she failed to drop charges of attempted kidnap against them.
The police had in a five-count charge dated November 25, 2020, alleged that Ohakim and Okpareke, 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.
The charges against the former Imo Governor and Okpareke 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.”
The court case started as a once-upon-a-time romantic affair between the former Governor of Imo State and Ms. Chinyere Amuchienwa, said to be his other woman turned sour.
Things have quickly degenerated between the duo, forcing the police to launch a probe into their past affair and the flurry of allegations, as well as denials by both Amuchienwa and Ohakim, currently in the public domain.
Following the takeover of the case by the AGF’s office, checks revealed that there is tension in the camp of the former Imo Governor as the prosecution of the case could further beam searchlight on his political past as well as hus affairs with the woman in question.
Ohakim had governed Imo state between 2007 and 2011. He was succeeded in office by Senator Rochas Okorocaha. He tried to be governor again in 2019, but his bid failed at the polls.
