By Austin Ogwuda
SENATOR Benson Konbowei representing Bayelsa Central in the National Assembly has been remanded at Kuje prison (Correctional Centre) Abuja over alleged forgery of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC exemption certificate .
His remand was ordered by Justice Christopher Oba of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital Thursday when the case came up for hearing.
The embattled Senator facing a three-count charge bordering on forgery of the National Youth Service Corps exemption certificate was earlier arraigned on Tuesday this week which he pleaded not guilty to.
But when the case came up again two days later, (Thursday), the court ordered that he should be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of the bail conditions and declined an oral application by the defendant’s lawyer to write an undertaken to produce the Senator in court till he perfects his bail conditions.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the Prosecuting counsel, Rubben Egwaba, vehemently opposed Konbowei’s bail application and told the court that prosecution was concerned that if released on bail, the Senator would certainly interfere with his trial.
“When the charge was filed, the defendant (Senator) took several steps to interfere with the matter. He also wrote a lot of petitions against me to truncate the matter. We urge my lord to refuse the application”, Egwaba stated.
Spirited efforts made by the Senator’s lawyer, Gordy Uche (SAN), urging the court to grant his client bail, assuring the court he would not jump bail were not yielded to.
Instead, Justice Christopher Oba, in his ruling, said, “The Law is settled that bail is the discretion of the court. Taking a look at the matter it is not a capital offence”, and granted the Senator bail to the tune of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The judge emphasised that the sureties must own landed properties with Certificates of Occupancy in the Federal Capital Territory.
He subsequently ordered that the accused Senator be remanded in the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the perfection of his bail conditions.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till
June 24, 25 and 27 for accelerated hearing.
Prosecution stated in the Charge Sheet marked: CR/028/2023, The Inspector of Police vs the accused, (Konbowei) was accused of fraudulently forging a document titled ‘Certificate of Exemption’ with number 000256454 and dated July 4, 2008, contrary to the provisions of Sections 366,156 and 158 of the Penal Code Act CAP 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 and was liable to punishment under Section 364 of the same Act.
Credit: Punch