The Nigeria Police Force has been ordered to arrest Senator Hope Uzodinma, the senator representing Imo West, for issuing a N200 million dud cheque.
A Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court In Abuja gave the order on Tuesday following the lawmaker’s failure to present himself for arraignment for the said offence after being notified.
Uzodinma was absent on September 11, the last adjourned date, but his counsel, Eze Oguaju, promised to make him available today, September18.
The failure to appear again today led the presiding judge, Abdulwahab Mohammed, to issue a bench warrant against him.
The senator, alongside two companies, Smiec Engineering and Chemical Construction Company, Niger Global Engineering and Technical Company, were charged to court for allegedly issuing a N200 million dud cheque to Chitex Ventures and Chima Akuzie.
The judge also entered a plea of not guilty for the other defendants, relying on Section 478 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The section provides that a court shall order a plea of not guilty to be entered and the trial shall proceed as though the corporation involved had duly entered a plea of not guilty.
He subsequently adjourned the matter until September 25 for hearing.
Chitex Ventures Ltd and Chima Akuzie, the complainants, had made a Direct Criminal Complaint against the defendants over alleged issuance of a UBA N200 million dud cheque.
The complainant’s counsel, Oluwatosin Ojaomo, had earlier urged the court to invoke the provisions of Section 131 of the ACJA against the defendant, by issuing a warrant of arrest against the defendant
