A lawmaker representing Ikwo South, in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon Chike Ogiji was Friday arraigned in court for parading forged school certificates.
Ogiji who doubles as the Chief Whip of the Assembly was arraigned in the Magistrate court of Ebonyi state on four count charges.
The charges read as follows, that you Ogiji IMO Chike ‘m’ on 10th day of November, 2006 at Abakaliki in Magisterarial district of this court did knowingly swore false affidavit touching on a first school Leaving Certificate purportedly issued to you in the year 1984 by Community Primary School Uduku Ettam Okpuitumo in Ikwo Local Government Area, Ebonyi State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 118 of the Criminal Code Act, cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Ebonyi state of Nigeria.
That between 2007 and 2015 at Abakaliki in Magisterial district of this court did forge an entry schedule marksheet and state Exams for Community primary School Uduku Ettam Okpuitumo in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi state for the year 1986 with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 465 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal code Act,cap C38 law of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Ebonyi state of Nigeria.
On the 10th day of November, 2006 at Abakaliki in Magisterial district of this court did alter an affidavit sworn to at the Ebonyi state High Court Abakaliki Judicial Division and thereby committed in offence contrary to section 465 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal code Act,cap C38 law of the federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Ebonyi state of Nigeria.
Between 2007 and 2015 at Abakaliki in Magisterial district of this court did forge primary school testimonial of Uduku Community primary school,Ikwo Local government Area, dated 27th July, 2015 with intent that it may be used or acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 465 and punishable under section 467 of the Criminal code Act,Cap C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as applicable in Ebonyi state of Nigeria.
After the charges were read to his understanding, Ogiji pleaded not guilty.
His Defence Counsel, Emeka Odom urged the court to grant him bail adding that he is presumed innocent at this stage until proven guilty.
“The fundamental issue in this application for bail is to ensure that he is available to face trial. We urge this court to admit him bail on self recognition. He is a person of repute and he is representing Ikwo South state constituency in the state House of Assembly, he is also the Chief Whip of the Assembly.
“The accused is enjoying police administrative bail and is so religious in granting police interview. He came from police to this court, manifesting that the respect he has for the law of the nation, ” he told the trial magistrate.
But the Prosecuting counsel, Peter Amadi urged the court to refuse the accused person bail.
In his ruling, the trial Magistrate, Stella Ogeoke granted him bail with the sum of N20,000 in like sum and adjourned the matter to 11th June, 2018 for trial.
