A Magistrate Court in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, has remanded a former Chairman of the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, Augustine Nwazunku, and three others in prison over the purported suspension of a chieftain of the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the other three persons remanded are Obinna Nwachukwu, Njoku Nwagwu and Ogbonnaya Idika.
They were arraigned after they purportedly suspended the South East National Vice Chairman, Ali Odefa, from the party.
They are facing a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cultism, forgery, impersonation and carrying of offensive weapons.
NAN recalls that Odefa was reportedly suspended on October 3 by the PDP executive in his Ogudu-Okwor Ward, Oshiri Community in Onicha Local Government Area for alleged anti-party activities.
The Senior State Counsel for the Ministry of Justice, David Njoku, told the court that the defendants committed the offences in the area on October 2.
Njoku said that the defendants forged a letter purported to have emanated from the ward party executive, claiming that the party had suspended Odefa.
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He said the offences contravened Section 516 A (a) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ebonyi State.
“They also committed offences contrary to Section 3 (1) (3) of the Ebonyi State Law Prohibiting Secret Cult Activities and Carrying of Offensive Weapons and punishable under Section 5 of the same Law,” Njoku said.
The Chief Magistrate, Ojemba Isu-Oko, refused the bail application by the Counsel for the defendants, U. A. Obasi.
Isu-Oko said that the court lacked the jurisdiction to handle the case and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the correctional centre until November 18.
