False alarm: Court grants former Imo Governor, Ihedi Ohakim N10M bail

Following the Wednesday arraignment of former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Maitama, Abuja, on charges of giving false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa by men of the Nigerian Police Force.

The former Governor pleaded not guilty to the three counts preferred against him.

His lawyer, Chief Ken Njemanze (SAN), subsequently applied to the court to grant him bail, a request opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Stanley Nwodo.

Nwodo said Ohakim would likely interfere with prosecution witnesses if granted bail.

But the judge, Justice Samira Bature, overruled the prosecution’s objection and granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10m with one surety.

The judge ordered that the surety must be a reputable person in the society with a verifiable address within the FCT.

He, however, warned that the bail could be revoked if the defendant was found to interfere with prosecution witnesses.

The prosecution alleged in the case marked CR/993/2020, that Ohakim who was governor of Imo State from 2007 to 2011 gave false information that the complainant, Amuchienwa, threatened him with a gun.

It also alleged that the ex-governor made a false claim to the lady that he had a plot of land for sale in Lagos State.

Ohakim was equally alleged to have unlawfully used “the name of Raji Fashola as the owner of the purported land situated at Ikeja, Lagos State”.

The offences were said to be punishable under various provisions of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria, 1968.

The judge adjourned the case till January 25, 2021 for trial.