Court orders Senator’s arrest over forgery

An Abuja Grade 1 Area Court in Lugbe has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Senator Lawrence Oborawharievwo Ewhrudjakpo for failing to appear before the court in a case of forgery levied against him.

The judge, Abubakar Sadiq, issued the warrant on Wednesday, stating that the Bayelsa West senator was aware of the case upon a court summon sent to him but chose not to appear before the court.

“I hereby issue a bench warrant against the defendant. I also order that the matter should be refered to Wuye Police Station for further investigation,’’ he said

Sadiq said that the police report should reach the court with update before December 11.

The complainant, Benjamin Youdiowei, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa, had through a criminal complaint, alleged that Senator Ewhrudjakpo presented a forged Certificate of Exemption No: 139708 of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) dated February 2, 1998 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

He also alleged that the senator “fraudulently and dishonestly used the said forged NYSC Certificate of Exemption as genuine document.” He prayed the court to charge the senator accordingly.

When the matter was called yesterday, A. O Ijere, who announced appearance for the senator, apologized for the absent adding that his client was currently out of town. He therefore prayed prayed the court to grant his client one more date to enable him appear before the court.

The complainant’s counsel, Seidu Jibrin however opposed the application for another date and applied for bench warrant against the senator pursuant to section 352(1), 131 and 134 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015.