The Guardian (Nigeria)

Ogbankwa asks Edo Attorney General to recuse self from suit

- From Ameh Ochojila, Abuja

AEdo- based la wyer, Douglas Ogbankwa has called on the Edo state Attorney General to recuse himself from the suit filed against him which bothers on conspiracy to commit a felony, citing concerns of political bias and prejudicia­l actions.

Ogbankwa, while raising alarm claimed that the charges against him are trumped- up and orchestrat­ed by the Edo State Government.

The la wyer highlighte­d a series of irregulari­ties, alleging that the charges against him were leaked to the media before being formally served, indicating a coordinate­d effort to tarnish his reputation.

He said that the Director of Public Prosecutio­ns ( DPP) and other officials of the Ministr y of Justice were making prejudicia­l statements, signaling a predetermi­ned stance on his guilt.

He said former Commission­er of Transport, Orobosa Omo- Ojo, published the charges in the Midwest Herald, further fueling concerns of political interferen­ce.

Ogbankwa asserts that the distributi­on of those materials across social media platforms, coupled with biased remarks from government officials, undermine his right to a fair trial.

He, therefore, called on the AG to hand over the case file to the police, while the DPP and all implicated government officials, recused themselves from the matter.

He argued that their actions have left him without hope of a fair trial.

In the charge marked B/ CD/ 60C/ 2024, the state accused the la wyer of conspiring, “to commit a felony punishable under Section 412 of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022” and “forcible entr y punishable under Section 56 ( 1) of the Criminal Law of Edo State, 2022”, among others.

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