Court convicts ex-minister Ogah for forgery

Immediate past Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development,Dr. Uche Ogah has been convicted for forgery. 

An Abia State Magistrate Judge, Ngozi N. Nwangwa,while sitting on the case in Umuahia on Thursday,December 8th, ordered the arrest of Ogah and committal to prison at any nearest Correctional Center in the state.

In a suit No. UMSC/362/2022, the All Progressives Congress(APC) had brought a criminal complaint against Dr. Ogah that he did not take part in the governorship primary election of the party held on May 26th, 2022 but went ahead and forged the party’s direct primary election result sheet “with intent that it may be acted on as genuine”.

According to the complainant, the forgery perpetrated by Ogah was prejudicial to the party and its authentic governorship flag bearer in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, “thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code (as applicable in Abia) and punishable under Section 467.”

Nwangwa in passing her judgement, held that the defendant/respondent “is guilty as charged”, adding, “I am convinced that the defendant has no defence.”

“I, hereby, commit Dr Uche Ogah for the offence as charged,” she said.

The Presiding Magistrate, therefore, ordered security agencies to “arrest him anywhere he is found and keep him in the nearest correctional centre pending the day he would be brought to court for sentencing.” 

Ogah had consistently been absent from court.

In a written affidavit, the State Secretary, Chief Chidi Avaja, PW1 had tendered six exhibits on allegation of forgery numbered “A – F” against Dr. Ogah and which the party Counsel, Barr Vigilus Nwankwo described as documents that are “unchallenged and incontrovertible evidence” by the respondents.

He could not be reached for comment.