Jonathan Makes U-turn, Re-files Suit Against LEADERSHIP Journalists
Fifty days after withdrawing an alleged forgery charge against two LEADERSHIP journalists, Mr Tony Amokeodo (the group news editor) and Mr Chibuzor Ukaibe (political correspondent), the President Goodluck Jonathan-led federal government yesterday made a U-turn and re-filed the case before an Abuja high court in Kubwa.
The lead lawyer to the federal government, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), had on Friday filed an 11-count charge of alleged forgery of a presidential directive against Amokeodo, Ukaibe and LEADERSHIP Group Ltd before Justice U. A. Musale.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court in Abuja had on May 2, 2013, struck out the case, following the withdrawal of a-six count charge by the lawyer to the federal government, Chief Awomolo.
The development was sequel to the notice of preliminary objection filed by the lawyer to the LEADERSHIP journalists, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), who argued that the court could not entertain the matter on the grounds that it lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.
But a new twist emerged on Friday, June 21, 2013, when the federal government through its lawyer, Awomolo, approached an Abuja High Court, through an ex-parte application, seeking the leave of the court to prefer a charge against the journalists.
After listening to the argument by a lawyer from Awomolo’s chambers, Mrs F. Folorunso, Justice Musale granted the request of the federal government.
The judge later adjourned the case till Thursday, June 27, 2013, for the arraignment of the two LEADERSHIP journalists.
But a court bailiff accompanied by lawyers from Awomolo’s chambers came to LEADERSHIP’s office yesterday at about 2:45pm to serve the new charge against the journalists and the newspaper company.
Some of the 11-count charge are as follows: COUNT 1: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forged a document titled ‘Presidential Directive’ having on it the Seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published on the front page of Leadership Newspaper of 3rd day of April, 2013,.intended by you to be understood to be the seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the intent of the document purported it to be the directive of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 2: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did commit an offence to wit: forged a document titled ‘Presidential Directive’ having on it the Seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria published on the front page of Leadership Newspaper of 3rd day of April, 2013, intended by you to be understood to be the seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the intent of the document purported it to be that made by the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 365 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 3: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: making a false document titled PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE on a letter head purporting same to be a document made from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, knowing it to be false and with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of the President and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 4: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable’ court did make a false document titled PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE on a letter head, purporting same to be a document from the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013 knowing it to be false and with the intent that it may be acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 363 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 5: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: dishonestly using as genuine a false document titled PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE with the seal of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purporting same to be a document made or issued by the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, for the consumption of the general public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 6: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did dishonestly use as genuine a false document titled ‘PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE’ with the seal of the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, purporting same to be the document made or issued by the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and published same on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, for the consumption of the
general public and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 366 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 7: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this honourable court did conspire to commit an offence to wit: attempted to excite feelings of disaffection against the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the false document published by you on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, titled ‘PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE’ which document was intended by you to excite feelings of disaffection and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 8: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this
honourable court did commit an offence to wit: attempted to excite feelings of disaffection against the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the false document published by you on the front page of LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPER of 3rd day of April, 2013, titled ‘PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE’ which document was intended by you to excite feelings of disaffection and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 416 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provision Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 9: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this
honourable court did conspire to commit an offence to wit: Publishing a statement titled ‘PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE’ which you have reason to believe to be false with intent to cause alarm to the public whereby members of the public may be induced to commit an offence against public peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under
Section 97 of the Penal Code Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 10: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, ~EADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this
honourable court did commit an offence to wit: Publishing a statement titled ‘PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE’ which you have reason to believe to be false with intent to cause alarm to the public whereby members of the public may be induced to commit an offence against public peace and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 418 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provision Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
COUNT 11: That you TONY AMOKEODO, CHIBUZOR UKAIBE, LEADERSHIP GROUP LIMITED, all of 27 Ibrahim Tahir Lane, Utako, Abuja, on or about the 3rd day of April, 2013 at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory commit an offence to wit: Having in your possession without lawful excuse a document titled ‘PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE’, the publication of which is capable of exciting feelings of disaffection against the person of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 419 of the Penal Code (Northern States) Federal Provision Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
