Court Convicts Ex Minister Uche Ogah For Forging APC Primary Result Sheet

An Abia State Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia on Thursday convicted the immediate past Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah, for forgery.

In a lawsuit marked UMSC/362/2022 and filed by Abia state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), it was alleged that Ogah fabricated the party’s direct primary result sheet “with intent that it may be acted on as genuine”, despite not participating in the party’s May 26, 2022 governorship primary.

According to the complainant, the forgery perpetrated by Ogah was prejudicial to the party and its authentic governorship flag bearer in Abia State, High Chief Ikechi Emenike, “thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 465 of the Criminal Code (as applicable in Abia) and punishable under Section 467.”

Delivering her judgment, the Presiding Magistrate Ngozi N. Nwangwa held that the defendant/respondent “is guilty as charged”, adding, “I am convinced that the defendant has no defence”.

The party which stated that the offence is in contravention of section 465 of the Criminal Code (as it applies in Abia) and punishable under section 467, added that Ogah’s “falsification” was detrimental to the party and Ikechi Emenike, whom the party recognises as its “authentic governorship flagbearer”.

The presiding magistrate who ruled on the case said;

“I’m convinced that the defendant has no defence.

“I hereby commit Dr Uche Ogah for the offence as charged.”

Acknowledging Ogah’s absence during the court proceeding, the magistrate gave security agencies an order to arrest him wherever he may be and hold him in any correctional facility until the day he is brought to court for sentencing.

It was also learnt that the Minister who had no legal representation during the case, has failed to appear before the court since November when the matter came up for hearing.