Justice Abimbola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Gudu, Abuja, on Thursday ordered that Victor Osita Uwajeh, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for forgery and impersonation, to be remanded in prison.

The court also fixed of February 9 for the adoption of written submissions and hearing of the bail application in the case brought against him by the anti-graft agency.

Uwajeh was arraigned on a four-count charge of forgery and for parading himself as a staff of the EFCC with the intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

A statement by EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said Uwajeh's offence contravenes section 363 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, adding that it is punishable under section 364 of the same Act.

The statement explained that when the matter came up in court, Uwajeh pleaded not guilty to the charges, adding that soon after he took his plea, counsel to EFCC, Mike Bul, asked the court to fix a date for hearing of the case as the commission has enough evidence to prosecute the matter.

Attempts by defence counsel, Chris Onwugeonu, to move for bail was unsuccessful as the presiding judge turned down the request.

According to Banjoko, bail application was not ripe as the prosecuting counsel is statutorily entitled to 48 hours to respond, having just been served the application in court.

It will be recalled that Uwajeh was arrested at his Wuse II, Abuja, residence on January 13 following an intelligence report indicating that he was parading himself as an official of EFCC.

His arrest led to the recovery of incriminating items.

Daily Independent

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