Over N10m Theft: Police Arraign Ex- Governorship Aspirant, Assistant Court Registrar, 4 others in Court

From ECHE NWAOBASI, (NNEWI)

The Anambra State Police Command has arraigned one of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA governorship aspirant in the last APGA primary election, Mr. Nworah Nezianya, an Assistant Court Registrar in charge of Onitsha High Courts, Mrs. Victoria Obiageli Osieme, one Mr. Damian .C. Okolo (known estate management and valuer), and four others to court for allegedly stealing  Ten Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty (10, 255, 450) Naira only.

The case, which came before Onitsha Chief Magistrate Court, presided over by Her Worship N.A. Ozumba, have Mr. Nworah Nezianya, Obiefuna Nezianya, Ernest Nezianya, and Fidelis Chuks Agulefo as co-defendants 

According to the charge sheet which was contained in the amended charge No. MO/569C/2019, the defendants were arraigned under three count charge, which the police relied on to prosecute the defendants for alleged conspiracy, stealing and forgery.

The charge sheet read this:  

1. That you Nworah Nezianya, Obiefuna Nezianya, Ernest Nezianya, Damian C. Okolo, Fidelix Chuks Agulefo and Mrs. Victoria Obiageli Osieme and others now at large sometime in 2019 at Onitsha in the Onitsha Magistrate District did conspire to commit felony to wit stealing and thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 495(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol.  11 Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria (1991).

2. That you Nworah Nezianya, Obiora Nezianya, Ernest Nezianya, Damian C. Okolo, Fidelis Chuks Agulefo and Mrs. Victoria Obiageli Osieme and others now at large on the s, same date, place, and within the aforementioned Magisterial District, did steal the sum of Ten Million, Two Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty Naira only (N10,255.450.000) being the sum of money which Amechi Odunze, Akunnua James Egbuniuke, Nwachimeluoba, Edward Okosi, Ikwunne R, Raphael Nezianya and Ejiofor Sylvester Nezianya could have earned as co-owners of the estate of late Chief Moses Azuogalanya Nezianya. By not doing this, you thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 353(12) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol. 11 Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.

3. That you Nworah Nezianya on the same date, place aforementioned Magisterial District did forge a letter headed paper of Chief Moses Azuogalanya Nezianya Family Estate and you thereby committed an offense punishable under Section 433(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol 11 Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria.

When the case came up for hearing, Barr. Tonna Nnabuife, a counsel from Anambra State Ministry of Justice who appeared for the State Attorney General, told the court that he was sent by the Attorney General to come and compel the prosecuting counsel who is prosecuting the case with fiat from the Attorney General to return the case file(s), noting that a letter to that effect has been sent earlier to the prosecuting counsel just as he prayed the court to adjourn the matter indefinitely pending further directive from the Attorney General.

While replying on the point of law, the prosecuting counsel, Barr. Olisa Machi acknowledged that he had received the letter but went further to remind the Court that the fourth and fifth defendants (Mr. Damian .C. Okolo and Mrs. Victoria Obiageli Osieme) were not in court even though they were properly served with hearing notices. The prosecution accused the two defendants of having decided to dishonor the Court by failing to attend Court proceedings.

He submitted that he will comply with the Attorney General’s order to return the case file(s) but further asked the court to take notice that the first to third defendants in the matter had earlier went for an interlocutory appeal at the Onitsha High Court and lost.

On her ruling after hearing the submissions of both Counsels, the Presiding Magistrate, Her Worship N.A. Ozumba ordered the prosecuting Counsel to immediately comply with the Attorney General’s directive and return the case file to the Attorney General Office while the case was adjourned indefinitely.