Former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Uche Ogah, has been found guilty of forgery by an Abia State Magistrate Court in Umuahia.
The Abia state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) claimed in the suit, UMSC/362/2022, that Ogah fabricated the party’s direct primary result sheet “with the intent that it may be acted on as genuine,” despite not participating in the party’s May 26, 2022 governorship primary.
According to the plaintiff, Ogah’s “falsification” was harmful to the party and Ikechi Emenike, whom the party recognizes as its “authentic governorship flagbearer.”
According to Abia APC, the offence violates section 465 of the Criminal Code (as it applies in Abia) and is punishable under section 467.
The presiding magistrate, Ngozi Nwangwa, ruled on Thursday that the former minister, who was not present in court, was “guilty as charged.”
She ruled;
I’m convinced that the defendant has no defence.
I hereby commit Dr Uche Ogah for the offence as charged.
The magistrate, on the other hand, ordered security agencies to arrest Ogah wherever he is and hold him in any correctional facility until he is brought to court for sentencing.
WITHIN NIGERIA understands that Ogah has not appeared in court since November when the case was scheduled for hearing, and he also does not have a legal representative.
The magistrate, on the other hand, stated that the former minister had petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Attorney-General, alleging “bias and compromise.”