By Austin Ogwuda
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has struck out the three-count charge preferred against the Senator representing Bayelsa Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Benson Konbowei following the order from the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation AGF & Commissioner for Justice, directing that the case be discontinued.
Although no reason or explanation was given to that effect.
As a result of the order, when the matter came up for hearing today (Monday),
the Prosecuting Counsel, Reuben Egwuaba orally applied to withdraw the case.
Egwuaba told the court, “My lord, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice who earlier issued to me a fiat to prosecute the case has withdrawn the fiat and directed me to withdraw it. I hereby apply to withdraw the case”.
Lead Counsel for the accused, Chris Uche (SAN), did not oppose the application moved by Egwuaba but rather urged the court to dismiss the matter entirely.
Ruling, the trial judge, Justice Christopher Oba stated that “Having listened to the application of the prosecution counsel, I hereby make an order that the case be struck out. The accused is hereby discharged”.
The Judge however turned down the request of the accused counsel to dismiss the matter.
The embattled Bayelsa Senator Benson Konbowei was arraigned before the court on March 26 this year contained in the Charge Sheet marked: CR/028/2023, the Inspector General of Police accused Konbowei of fraudulently forging a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ with number 000256454 and dated July 4, 2008, among others.
The senator pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the court session, the Senator said that “Over time, we have been on the matter. All of us in this business know that it was all about politics. They know that I am clean. This is not anything anyone should argue about. I have been a Councillor, State Assembly member and SSG before becoming a Senator. I am not a criminal in any way”.
Also speaking the Prosecuting Counsel, Egwuaba remarked that it might not yet be Uhuru because the merit of the case has not been determined, pointing out that an action would likely be taken after reviewing the Law.
Said he, “The fact that the AGF withdrew his fiat is not an acquittal. It is a temporary relief on the side of the defendant. The matter has not been decided on merit. We will go home and look at the law and know the necessary steps to take”, he stated.
photo caption: Senator Benson Konbowei
*Credit source of the Story to: Punch