Court orders senator to be summoned on newspaper

A Kubwa Grade 1 area court, Abuja, on Tuesday ordered a public summon to be published against a Nigerian senator, Hope Uzodinma, accused of issuing N200 million dud cheque.‎

Mr Uzodinma, representing Imo-West; Smiec Engineering and Chemical Construction Company; Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company, were charged for allegedly issuing N200 million dud cheque.

The judge, Abdulwahab Mohammed, made the order following a motion filed by the plaintiffs’ counsel, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, asking that a public summon be made against the defendants.

Mr Ojaomo, counsel to Chitex Ventures and Chima Akuzie (the complainants), had brought the motion pursuant to the provisions of Sections 41 and 42 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

He said that the motion had become imperative as the defendants appeared to be absconding from justice after they were served a warrant of arrest on September 18.

He told the court that the joint warrant of arrest issued against the defendants was duly served on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for the execution of their arrests.

Mr Ojaomo, who tendered an acknowledgement copy of a letter from the police, said the defendants had continued to feign ignorance of the existence of the suit.

Meanwhile, Mr Ojaomo had drawn the attention of the court to an interim order granted by Maitama High Court to stay the proceedings of the criminal complaint against the defendants.

He said the validity of the order had however, elapsed on September 24, adding that the defendants had no justifiable reason to stay away from the court.

Mr Ojaomo said the defendants had also filed a motion of judicial review in the Maitama High Court against the complainants, the trial judge, and himself, ”showing their knowledge of the suit brought against them”.

A warrant of arrest was issued against Mr Uzodinma and a not guilty plea was entered for the other defendant in accordance with Section 478 of the ACJA, on September 18.

‎Chitex Ventures Ltd and Chima Akuzie had made a direct criminal complaint against the defendants over the alleged issuance of a UBA N200 million dud cheque.

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The judge adjourned the case until October 29.