Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ahmed Ilelah of the Grade A Magistrate Court in Dutse has discharged and acquitted Engineer Oche Sunday Oche, the executive chairman of Ado Local Government of the case of forgery and impersonation files against him in 2018 by one Mr. Michael Unogwu, an ally of the deputy speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mrs Lami Danladi Ogenyi and the Deputy Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Philip Agbese.
Unogwu had instituted a forgery and impersonation case against the chairman before the Chief Magistrate Court on 2018. This was as a result of how Mr. Oche protested against how his mandate was fraudulently given to the complainant which made the APC National Working Committee to send his name to INEC as the party’s flag bearer for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency for the 2019 general elections.
Engineer Oche was accused in 2018 of submitting a fake document and forged signature of his opponent, Mr. Michael Unogwu to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to contest the House of Representatives for Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency.
Michael Unogwu through the court had his name returned back on the INEC portal as the party’s flag bearer for the election. He lost at the general elections in 2019 as a result of his unpopularity and lack of goodwill.
In 2022 when Engineer Oche wanted to contest for the same election at the primary level under the APC, the complainant rushed to the court again but he abandoned the case at a Makurdi Court when it was made clear that it was a party affair.
In 2024 again when Oche raised his intention to contest as chairman of Ado Local Government, the deputy speaker funded Michael Unogwu to approach the court again and he then changed the case to a criminal case but without any success.
This however prompted Mr. Oche to approach the Dutse Chief Magistrate court, pleading that the entire case be quashed, and in his ruling, Chief Magistrate Abdullahi Ahmed Ilelah after listening to the Counsel to the accused, Barrister John Ochogwu outrightly discharged and acquitted the accused person and warned Michael Unogwu to stop disturbing the judiciary with frivolities.
Meanwhile, an investigation by this newspaper showed that Mr. Michael Unogwu is now working as a false court witness to politicians who need him for hatchet jobs in court especially the deputy speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mrs Lami Danladi Ogenyi
It was also gathered that he has now become a middle man for Lami Danladi, Philip Agbese and John Ochoga who have planned to bring down the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
According to findings, Michael Unogwu met with the trio of Lami Danladi, Philip Agbese and John Ochoga at Afri Hotel in Abuja recently where he was paid a sum of N15 million to renew his case of forgery and impersonation against Engineer Oche Sunday just like he has been doing each time the Ado Local Government chairman plans for any election.
Sources at the meeting explained that it was agreed that Michael Unogwu should reawaken the case by organizing a trumped-up charge against the Ado Local Government chairman.
Recall that Mr. Michael Unogwu had abandoned the forgery case against Oche each time he showed up in court with his allegations and discovered that there were no merits in the case.
However, the youths of Ado Local Government under the umbrella body of Ado Youths Forum led by Comrade James Agada have condemned the Benue deputy speaker for spending millions of Naira to persecute her local government chairman when she hasn’t done any meaningful constituency projects in her State Constituency since she assumed duties as a State lawmakers.
Speaking in a press statement this evening, the group tasked Lami Danladi to organize a Town Hall meeting where she will brief them of all his achievements as a State lawmaker if there is any or forget about coming to them again for any election.
They however lauded the council chairman for his residence and determination to give his people dividends of democracy as a way to complement the efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia to develop Benue State.
In his reaction to the judgement, Engineer Oche thanked the Judiciary for once again demonstrating that the institution is still the last succour for the common men.
Oche said that he was aware of the motive behind the “false” accusation, noting that he will always be grateful to the Judiciary for vindicating him.
Speaking with reporters after the ruling, Barr. John Ochogwu, Counsel to Engineer Oche stated that his client was prosecuted because he protested against how his mandate was fraudulently given to the complainant by the leadership of the All Progressive Congress in Abuja in 2018 after he had won a primary election to fly the flag of the party for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency election again.
Barrister Ochogwu wondered why the complainant didn’t raise the case again until 2022 when Engineer Oche Sunday Oche indicated an interest to run for the Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency.
According to Barrister Ochogwu, today’s judgement has put to rest all the allegations by the complainant that the accused was involved in certificate forgery and impersonation.