The Federal High Court in Abuja has slated September 27, 2021, to rule on an application by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice to take over the case against former Governor of Imo State, Ikedi Ohakim, who is facing trial over an allegation that he threatened to release a nude photograph of Chinyere Amuchienwa, an Abuja based woman.
Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned after the counsel from the AGF Office, Bagudu Sani, told the court that the Police, that filed the charge against Ohakim had transferred the case file to the office of the AGF after filing a notice of discontinuance in the matter.
The counsel for Police, Rufus Dimka, in her argument against the application by the AGF to take over the matter, said the police filed an applicant’s counter-affidavit on March 30, 2021.
While adopting the 25 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by Inspector Joshua Yohana of the Legal Section of the Nigeria Police, Dimka urged the court to grant the notice of discontinuance and strike out the charge.
However, Emeka Etiaba (SAN), Counsel to the former governor opposed the request by the AGF to take over the matter.
He prayed the court to dismiss the application by the AGF, noting that the content of the affidavit of compliance by the office of the AGF does not affect the consequence of the notice of withdrawal of the charge against the former governor and urged the court to strike out the charge.
After listening to submissions by parties, Justice Taiwo adjourned till September 27, 2021, to rule on the application.
Police had in the charge alleged that the former Imo State Governor and one Chinedu Opara have threatened to release a nude photograph of Amuchienwa if she fails to drop charges of attempted kidnap against them.
In the five-count charge dated November 25, 2020, police alleged that Ohakim and Okpareke, knowingly and intentionally transmitted communication through a computer system to harass and bully Amuchienwa, an offence that is punishable under Section 24 subsection 1a of the Cybercrime Act 2015.
