Breaking News: Ohakim discharged, acquitted over false information charge
A former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim, was on Tuesday, 16th March, 2021 discharged and acquitted by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, on a 3-count criminal charge entered against him by the Inspector-General of Police.
The development followed a notice of discontinuance filed by the police in relation to the matter. The notice of discontinuance of charge No: CR/933/2020 dated March 12, 2021, was filed before the court by Rotshang Faith Dimka, Legal Counsel, Legal/Prosecution Section, FCIID, Force Headquarters, Abuja.
It reads: ‘Take notice that the complainant discontinues all of the proceedings in this case against Dr Ikedi Ohakim with the consent of all the parties.’
Following the development, Ohakim was accordingly discharged and acquitted by the court and the charges struck out.
Competent sources told this reporter that the police authorities took the decision to discontinue the case after it discovered that the charge was a malicious act against Ohakim.
The Inspector-General of Police had in the said charge accused Ohakim of giving false information against one Chinyere Amuchienwa, née Igwegbe. Before the matter was struck out, the former governor had entered a plea of not guilty.
In a related development, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said the allegations of Intimidation, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse made against Ohakim by the same Chinyere Lilian Amuchienwa cannot be substantiated.
The position of the agency is contained in its preliminary investigation report on the matter.
The report signed by Moses Unongu has accordingly recommended that the case review committee to discontinue the case as there is no evidence to sustain the Ms Amuchinwa’s claim of being intimidated and abused emotionally, verbally and psychologically by Ohakim.
