ABUJA: Curious Slump Of An ‘EFCC Chief’

Whether it was the order of Justice Abimbola Banjoko of the Federal Capital Territory High Court that he be remanded in prison custody, or he was trying to fool the court, one thing was clear: Victor Osita Uwajeh, who was facing trial for impersonation, was indeed shocked by the unpalatable prospect that, at least for some time, he would substitute the comfort of his palatial Wuse 11, Abuja apartment for a mosquito-infested prison cell.

On Thursday 28 January, Uwaje was arraigned on a four-count charge of forgery and passing himself off as a staff of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, with intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public. Up till when he slumped, Uwajeh, who came to the court dressed in a well starched light blue native attire, had sat through the proceedings looking anything but ruffled. Indeed, his calm, fresh and robust looks had gotten many in the court wondering whether Uwajeh, who was arrested on 13 January, came straight from his Wuse home to the court.

He pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge, but an attempt by his lawyer, Chris Onwugeonu to obtain bail for him was thwarted by Mike Bul, the EFCC lawyer, who said he would need at least 48 hours to respond to Onwugeonu’s application. After accepting the EFCC counsel’s argument and adjourning the case till 9 February for the adoption of written addresses and hearing of the bail application, Justice Banjoko then ordered that the accused be remanded in prison. Uwajeh promptly sank to the floor. But the EFCC men were not impressed. They wasted no time in “reviving” him to ensure that he was taken to prison as ordered by the Judge.

—Reported by Oluokun Ayorinde.

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