CSP Ezekiel Rimamsomte, the Police Prosecutor in the purported criminal charge against Chief Edozie Njoku, the National Chairman of APGA, on July 4, 2023, at the FCT High Court 40 Bwari, left no one in doubt that the Chief Njoku and Chuks Nwoga were merely being persecuted, not prosecuted to serve some inordinate interests other than the public good.
To borrow a leaf from Barr. Panam Ntui, Counsel to Chief Edozie Njoku and Chuks Nwoga, he said ‘that under the law, criminal charges are usually between the individual and the State.
The essence is to stress the gravity of the offence and use the accused as a guinea pig so that others would learn and never dare to contemplate acts that militate against the State.’
Unfortunately, in a situation where everything is driven by political consideration, characters like CSP Rimamsomte are often employed or recruited by the bosses in high places to curry favour in opaque quarters, at the expense of justice, equity and fair play. On that fateful day, after Mr. Rimamsomte called two witnesses – Mr. Uche Nwegbo and SP Sule Danjuma.
Afterwards, the matter was adjourned to July 14, 2023, with the prosecutor claiming that he had four more witnesses to present before the Court. On July 14, 2023, when the Court rose at about 10:15am, this morning, Rimamsomte seemed lost and couldn’t not present any witness.
He pleaded with the Court for a 5 minutes stand down to enable his witnesses arrive at the Court.
The Court magnanimously granted his request and stood down the matter for an hour. When the Court resumed hearing later in the day, Barr. Victor Agunzi, Counsel to Victor Oye rose address the Court. The Court refused to grant him audience.
Rimamsomte rather than produce his acclaimed witnesses veered off the tangent and brought out a petition against Hon. Justice M. A. Madugu of the FCT High Court 40 Bwari which was written by Barr. Victor Agunzi, the self-acclaimed legal adviser to Sylvester Ezeokenwa and addressed to the Chief Judge of the FCT.
According to Rimamsomte, his witnesses could not appear before the Court because they insist that the want Hon. Justice M. A Madugu to recuse himself from the matter. The Court asked Rimamsomte to address the Court on the pint of law. He simply requested for an adjournment.
Immediately, Counsel to Njoku and Nwoga, Mr. Panam Ntui rose and vehemently opposed any form of adjournment on the grounds that they were mere antics and theatrics being deployed by the prosecutor to further delay the matter.
Listening to their addresses, the Court ruled that since November 22, 2022 when Rimamsomte dragged Chief Njoku and Nwoga to Court, he made the Court to understand the urgency of the matter.
But, however, the prosecutor has been unable to substantially and prove his case beyond reasonable doubt.
Going forward, the Court closed his case and asked Counsel to Njoku to resume his defense.
Immediately, Chief Njoku left the accused box and moved over the Witness box, where he made an impressive and intriguing representation before the Court which left no one in doubt that the Police had no case against him.
Interestingly, Rimamsomte, couldn’t cross examine Chief Edoze Njoku making it glaring that the Police lacks ample evidence and substance to prosecute Njoku diligently. The matter was adjourned to September 11, 2023.
Unfortunately, in a situation where everything is driven by political consideration, characters like CSP Rimamsomte are often employed or recruited by the bosses in high places to curry favour in opaque quarters, at the expense of justice, equity and fair play.
When the Court resumed hearing later in the day, Barr. Victor Agunzi, Counsel to Victor Oye rose address the Court.
The Court refused to grant him audience. Listening to their addresses, the Court ruled that since November 22, 2022 when Rimamsomte dragged Chief Njoku and Nwoga to Court, he made the Court to understand the urgency of the matter.
But, however, the prosecutor has been unable to substantially and prove his case beyond reasonable doubt. Going forward, the Court closed his case and asked Counsel to Njoku to resume his defense.
Immediately, Chief Njoku left the accused box and moved over the Witness box, where he made impressive and intriguing representation before the Court which left no one in doubt that the Police had no case against him.