Ohakim To Challenge AGF Taking Over Case, Says It Cannot Stand Interrogation

Former Imo State Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, will  promptly and vigorously challenge the ruling of a Federal High Court which granted leave to the Attorney General of the Federation to take over his prosecution. The matter relates to nude videos of an acquaintance of his, Chinyere Amuchinwa.

Ohakim’s Counsel, Alloy Ejimakor, Esq, is crying foul, insisting that the ruling ridicules the law.

In a strongly-worded statement, Ejimakor said that not only has the complaints, the Police, discontinued the case, Police Forensic investigation revealed that the said nude photographs were the handiwork of the said Ms Amuchinwa.

Moreover, Ejimakor said, Amuchinwa is already standing trial in an FCT High Court over the case. He also pointed out that: “This whole saga persists because Dr Ohakim, as a former Governor, and a politically exposed person, has detractors that have latched on this case to tarnish his stellar reputation.”

Following is the full text of  Ejimakor’s statement entitled:

AGF taking over case of Dr Ikedi Ohakim is erroneous

“This press release pertains to a ruling yesterday by a Federal High Court in Abuja granting leave to the Attorney-General of the Federation to take over the prosecution Dr Ikedi Ohakim over a matter relating to nude videos of one Chinyere Amuchinwa.

“Having considered the ramifications of this ruling, we now wish to inform the public that while we continue to abide in respects for decisions of Courts, this very ruling will be promptly challenged in all appropriate fora, because it bears no relevance to the material particulars of the dispute.

At worst, the ruling created false impressions that, in the course of time, will be fully dealt with. Meanwhile, the emphasis needs to be made that this whole saga persists because Dr Ohakim, as a former Governor and a politically exposed person, has detractors that have latched on this case to tarnish his stellar reputation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the said Chinyere Amuchinwa is already a defendant before an FCT High Court on the same set of facts that the Federal High Court  made the instant ruling against Dr Ohakim.

“This development should have foreclosed this later ruling because, at law, Dr Ohakim cannot lawfully face trial on the same set of facts upon which Ms Amuchinwa was already facing trial.

“It is, also, pertinent to note that these Charges were, already, discontinued by the Complainants (Nigeria Police) before someone suddenly materialized from the office of the Attorney-General, insisting on taking over the case.

“In particular, Ms Amuchinwa is facing trial because official Police forensic evidence revealed that she was the one that produced the nude video she had accused Dr Ohakim of photoshopping. So, one wonders why a Court should rule that Dr Ohakim will stand trial on a matter upon which forensic evidence had exonerated him.

“Further, this Court ruling seemingly ignored the long and twisted history of the case. In addition to the damning forensic evidence on the nude video, the other reason Nigerian Police Force discontinued the related Charges against Dr Ohakim was when they became aware that the Charges were brought in flagrant disobedience of an extant order of a competent court.

“In the light of the above, we are convinced that this very ruling was made per incuriam (in manifest error) and will thus not survive the avalanche of the legal challenges that will be brought to bear, sooner than later.”