Forgery: Court Convicts Ex-Minister Ogah, Orders Arrest, Imprisonment

An Abia State Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia on Thursday convicted the immediate past Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, for forgery, and ordered his arrest and and committal to prison at any nearest Correctional Center in the state.

In a suit No. UMSC/362/2022, the All Progressives Congress had brought a criminal complaint against Dr. Ogah that he did not participate in the governorship primary election of the party held on May 26, 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.”

Delivering her judgment, the Presiding Magistrate Ngozi N. Nwangwa 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 any where he is found and keep him in the nearest correctional centre pending the day he would be brought to court for sentencing.

Oga had consistently been absent in the 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.

Ogah could not be reached for his comment.