By Robert Egbe
A LAWYER, Eric Chukwuemeka Igweokolo, has invited the Lagos State, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), to investigate his alleged malicious prosecution by the police.
He claimed that the police are wrongfully prosecuting him in connivance with some Lagos State magistrate court officials.
Igweokolo also alleged that in a bid to frustrate and jail him at all cost, the case file has been moved among magistrates.
On December 2, 2019, an Ebute-Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court remanded Igweokolo, in Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) custody, following his arraignment for an alleged N3 million fraud.
Prosecuting Inspector Chinalu Uwadione alleged that the lawyer committed the alleged offences on December 24, 2008.
Chinalu said the defendant on December 24, 2008, obtained N1 million from one Emeka Obiajulu on behalf of Chief Azubuike Ekwerekwu, under false pretence while claiming he collected the money on the mandate of one Chinedu Onwumele.
Chinalu told the court that the lawyer also on January 15, 2009, collected the sum of N2 million, from one Christopher Iloabanafo, on behalf of Ekwerekwu, under false pretence.
The defendant pleaded not guilty.
Continuation of trial in the case has been fixed for April 28.
But in a February 24 petition to Mr Onigbanjo, the defendant said he was the victim of a web of injustice.
He alleged that a civil matter won by his client at a Lagos State High Court and which is pending before the Court of Appeal was used as basis for a false charge against him.
In the petition, Igweokolo stated that in 2005, he was briefed by Chinedu Onwumelu, to handle the matter of a four-bedroom bungalow he bought from Ekwerekwu for N5 million.
Due to foot dragging in executing the Deed of Assignment for the transaction it became a subject of litigation before Justice Opeyemi Oke, in a suit no ID/769/2005.
He said the suit was later reassigned to Justice Mojisola Dada, who ordered the landlord to refund Onwumelu the N5 million at 21 percent interest from 2003 till when the judgment was delivered and five percent interest thereafter, until the judgment debt was liquidated.
The landlord approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment.
While the appeal was still pending, the judgment debtor filed a new suit (No. ID/2168/2009), on same subject matter, but this suit was dismissed.
Igweokolo claimed that in the bid to frame him for a crime he did not commit, on December 31, 2009, the police purportedly obtained a warrant of arrest against him from Sabo, Yaba Magistrates’ Court.
He said the police claimed that it relied on a December 30, 2009, complaint on oath, which alleged that that on October 15, 2009, he (Igweokolo) committed a crime and refused to honour police invitation on the matter.
The lawyer averred that he was later arrested on January 15, 2010, detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti till January 18, 2010 before being arraigned at an Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court, on a four count charge of obtaining N3m under false pretence from the landlord.
He alleged that the police had failed to furnish him with the complaint made on oath.
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