Ladipo Sanusi/
The Federal High Court, in Lagos, has refused the plea to vacate the bench warrant issued for the arrest of a former Enugu State governor, Chimaroke Nnamani.
Justice (Prof.) Chuka Obiozor, rejected the plea made by Nnamani’s lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), and rather insisted that the ex-governor must be produced before him in respect of a N5.3bn fraud charge.
The judge also struck out Nnamani’s application challenging the Court’s jurisdiction and seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from arresting him.
The application was struck out by the judge, after Nnamani’s lawyer had asked for the withdrawal.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned the case till February 20, 2018, at the instance of the EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, who pleaded for time to consult with the anti-graft agency on how to proceed with the case.
Refusing Tarfa’s prayer for the discharge of the bench warrant against Nnamani, Justice Obiozor held: “The request for an order to discharge the bench warrant against the first defendant before me, for now, is hereby refused. This is without prejudice to the renewal of the application at the next adjourned date.”
Earlier after withdrawing the application challenging the court’s jurisdiction and seeking a perpetual injunction against the EFCC, Tarfa had contended that there was no valid charge against Nnamani before the Court.
He said a plea bargain had been entered in the case, leading to the conviction of the 3rd to 8th defendants.
But Uzozie explained that though there was a plea bargain in respect of the 3rd to 8th defendants, the case of Nnamani and his ex-aide, Sunday Anyaogu, who were joined as first and second defendants, had yet to be concluded.