Court refuses IG’s application to withdraw charge against monarch, 9 others

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja has refused application by the Inspector general of Police to withdraw criminal charge against Anambra monarch Igwe Peter Anaukwu Uyanwa.

The court orders His Royal Highness, Igwe Peter Anaukwu Uyanwa the Ezedike Ukwulu kingdom, Anambra State and 9 others to be arraigned December 6.

The nine others are Chief Walter Okafor, Chief Boniface Kamuche, Mr. Michael Eziachalla, Chief Christian Nwadiuto, Ichie Godwin Anigbata, Mr. Ezekiel Aniekwe, Chief Peter Mmonife, Ichie Agu Felix Uzodigwe and Comrade Augustine Maduka.

The defendants who were to be arraigned last week Friday on 12 count charge in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/255/2019 filed on October 16 by the Inspector General of Police for the federal government evaded the arraignment.

They were alleged to have conspired to breach peace in Ukwulu community. Their offences also include perjury and fabrication of evidence.

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But amid drama ensued on when the matte was called and the defendants were not in court. The prosecutor ACP Cosmos Anyanwu Esq. told the court that the IGP has instructed him to withdraw the suit.

Defendants counsel Chief Ikenna Egbuna (SAN) told the court that he was not opposed to the withdrawal. He explained that the defendants were absent in court because the prosecutor had informed him that he was asked to withdraw the matter.

The nominal complainant who was in court, Prince Engr Chinedu Tagbo raised up his hands and told the court that he had already petitioned the Inspector General of Police to change ACP Anyanwu from the case for corruption and extortion. He handed the judge the documents to buttress his complain.

He further told the court that after the prosecutor filed the charge, he demanded for N5m for legal fees without which the suit will be withdrawn. He said as a victim of the crime he seeks refuge under the protection of the court.

Prince Tagbo chronicled how the prosecutor ACP Anyanwu had tried to frustrate the service on the defendants by withholding till date the processes he collected N100,000 for preparation and filing. That later the court bailiff effected the service by serving copies of the Certified True Copy of the charge on the defendants.