Twenty persons including three ladies were arraigned at the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State yesterday. They were accused of allegedly abducting two Chinese nationals in Nnewi in March, 2007.
But the 21st person, multi millionaire, Pius Ogbuawa was absent as a result of another litigation, which has not been vacated at the High Court in Nnewi.
Though, the matter was mentioned, but the presiding judge, Justice Peter F. Olayiwola, adjourned till March 25 for further hearing based on argument presented by the defence counsel, Benson Sopuluchukwu Nwankwo and the prosecuting counsel, Ejiofor Obiora.
According to the charge list, the suspects were charged for treason, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 32(2) of the criminal code cap C38 laws of the federation.
But Ogbuawa’s charge was that he allegedly knowingly, harboured and provided assistance to the alleged suspects even when he knew that security agents were searching for them.
When the charges were read yesterday at the court, the defence counsel, Benson Nwankwo, argued that the Attorney General of the federation, had allegedly ordered the police to forward the case file to his office about three months now, adding that it was unfortunate the police had continued to defy the order.
But the prosecuting counsel, Ejiofor Obiora, responded by saying that he was not aware of what the defence counsel said, but insisted that the claims by the counsel was not true, adding that he should back up his claim by producing the order before the court.
Furthermore, Nwankwo, presented a notice of preliminary objection dated 6th March, 2009 which was equally served on the Inspector General of Police through the prosecuting counsel and another court order from Nnewi High Court backing the preliminary objection.
The order which was made by Justice Ike Ogu in suit number HN/M.770/2008 between Ogbuawa and Assistant Commissioner of police in Anambra State , IGP, CP and Area command in Nnewi, reads in part:
“That the applicant is hereby granted leave to institute proceedings against the respondents to enforce or secure the enforcement of his fundamental rights to personal liberty guaranteed by section 35 and right of dignity of human person guaranteed by section 34 of the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, 1999 respectively.
“The leave hereby granted shall operate as a stay of all actions or matters pertaining to or emanating from the subject matter of these complaints particularly cessation of further arrests or detention of the applicant based on the allegation of master-minding the kidnap of two (2) Chinese nationals pending the determination of the motion on notice.” The court ordered.
The two Chinese nationals, were workers of Innoson group of companies, but were kidnapped in March, 2007, while one of them was released, the other had not been seen till date.