Court Orders Arrest Of Senator Hope Uzodinma Over N200M Fake Cheque

Senator Hope Uzodinma Gets Bench Warrant Arrest

A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, today issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Senator Hope Uzodinma (Imo West), for issuing N200 million fake cheque.‎

Uzodinma, an incumbent senator, Smiec Engineering and Chemical Construction Company, Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company, were charged with alleged issuance of N200 million fake cheque to Chitex Ventures and Chima Akuzie.

The judge, Mr Abdulwahab Mohammed, said the defendant was absent on the last adjourned date of September 11, but his counsel, Eze Oguaju promised to make him available today, September18.

Mohammed issued a bench warrant against the defendant and entered a plea of not guilty for the other defendants, accordig to the provision of Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.‎

The section provides that a court shall order a plea of not guilty ‎to be entered and the trial shall proceed as though the corporation involved had duly entered a plea of not guilty.‎

The judge adjourned the matter until September 25 for hearing.‎

‎‎Chitex Ventures Ltd and Chima Akuzie, the complainants, had made a Direct Criminal Complaint against the defendants over alleged issuance of a UBA N200 million dud cheque.

The complainant’s counsel, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had earlier urged the court to invoke the provisions of Section 131 of the ACJA against the defendant, by issuing a warrant of arrest against the defendant.‎

He further stated that the defendants were absent in court in spite the fact that they were aware of today’s date, September 18 fixed for definite arraignment.‎

Recall that Senator Hope Uzodinma  who was freshly expelled from the state, All progressive Congress has his seat threatened by the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha. However, Uzodinma reportedly eyes the governorship seat.