The former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uche Ogah has been convicted by an Abia state Magistrate Court, sitting in Umuahia, the Abia state capital.He was convicted for forgery following a criminal complaint brought against him by the leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia state chapter.The party had dragged him to court with a complaint that he did not participate in her governorship primary election held on May 26, 2022, but went ahead to forge the party’s direct primary election result sheet, flaunting it “with intent that it may be acted upon as genuine”. The sole prosecution witness, who is the state Secretary of the party, Chief Chidi Avajah, was led in evidence to adopt his written depositions dated November 30, 2022 in respect of the criminal matter.The party stated that the forgery Ogah perpetrated was prejudicial to them and their “authentic governorship flag bearer, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, and so amounts to an offense that is contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code, as is applicable in Abia, and thus punishable under Section 467”.Ogah, whom the court heard had been dodging appearance in Court since November when the matter came up for hearing, as well as failed to send any counsel to represent him, also failed to appear before the presiding Magistrate, Ngozi N. Nwangwa when the matter was mentioned this morning.When the matter came up for hearing today, Thursday, December8, 2022, the magistrate stated that she had been served a copy of the petition written by Ogah to both the Chief Judge and and the Attorney General, in which he alleged “bias and compromise” on the side of the Court.However, the Party’s lead Counsel , Vigilus Nwankwo, submitted that the said petition was the usual antics people adopt to evade justice, adding that the outcome of the petition could not stay proceedings of the Court from going on.Nwankwo Cited Order 40 Rule 6(1) of the Abia State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2007,and explained that what the defendant did was an administrative step to evade justice, and not a formal application before the court for stay of proceedings.He also cited Section 305 of the Abia Criminal Justice Law, which stipulates that application for stay of proceedings in respect of any criminal case “shall not be entertained”. Based on the merit he found in the submissions of the Party’s Counsel, the magistrate granted the request for the prosecution to continue with the proceedings.Depositions admitted as exhibit by the court also contained affidavits deposed by the Chairman and secretary of the Party Governorship primary election panel for Abia, Chief Tony Obiefuna and Mr. Chukwudi Kanu respectively, wo stated that their signatures were forged by Ogah.Based on Ogah’s failure to open his defense on the charges preferred against him, the prosecution, after making its submissions closed its case.He urged the court “to accept the documentary evidence, rely on them and act on them accordingly”. Delivering judgment on the suit No. UMSC/362/2022, Magistrate Nwangwa held that the defendant/respondent “is guilty as charged”, adding that he was “convinced that the defendant has no defense”.“I hereby commit Dr Uche Ogah for the offense as charged,” the magistrate said, and ordered security agencies to arrest him anywhere he is found and keep him in the nearest correctional center pending the day he would be brought to court for sentencing since he was absent from the court. END
