As Persons Are Arraigned, Held  In Kuje Prison 

By Christopher Eyo

The Nigeria Police, after painstaking investigations, has busted a syndicate of persons which the Police has trailed for months and arraigned them in Court at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja

The Police disclosed that the gang used fake/unregistered law firm; Michael Edet and Associates to engage in illegal activities such as baseless petition writing, blackmail, intimidation, cyber bullying amongst others even as they also use fake addresses to evade scrutiny, mislead and misinform the public.

The case with charge no FHC/ABJ/CR/469 /2023 which is between the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and Michael Edet and two others, came up for hearing Friday before Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court, FHC, Court 9 Abuja.

The Defendants, JO udobang (a former external Solicitor to the Maritime Academy of Nigeria), OU Essien and Micheal Edet were arraigned on a four count charge of felony against Cdre. Duja Effedua, Rector Maritime Academy of Nigeria

After the charge was read to the defendants they pleaded not guilty.

Their counsels in addressing the court on their bail application pleaded that  Counsels will deposit their call to bar certificates to convince the court that the defendants will attend trials.

The prosecution counsel did not object to the bail application but reminded the court that justice should be done to all the parties including the nominal complainant since the court has the discretion to grant bail.

The court ruled that the defendants are granted bail on the term that their Lawyers deposit their call to bar certificates and shall swear to an affidavit of mean with two passport photographs each.

The trio of JO udobang, OU Essien and Micheal Edet are in custody at Kuje prison Abuja as their bail bond as ordered by the Judge could not be perfected.

The trail Judge adjourned the case to July 11, 2024 for the continuation of trial.

Online Video: 

Meanwhile, in an unfortunate, laughable turn of events following the hearing of the case in Abuja, our reporter gathered from sources within  the Uyo/Oron axis of Akwa Ibom state that one Aminu Jubril who has been on the run since 2021, has suddenly appeared in a video circulating online, with spurious allegations which have long been investigated and trashed.

According to sources, Jubril could be partner in crime with the arraigned persons.

“Why has he suddenly surfaced? Why has he been hiding? Why was he being tele guided on what to say as is evident on the video? Why cant he report to the Police or appear in court to bear witness to his partners? Would he be in court on July 11, 2024?

These were the questions our source who preferred to remain anonymous posed to our reporter even as he advised the public to disregard the video by the agitated Jubril.

It could be recall that the Rector has complained and even petitioned the IGP and anti graft agencies to look into issues of blackmail and false publications targeted at him by some shady characters hiding behind pseudonyms to perpetrate falsehood and misinformation against the Rector and indeed the Academy.

While some of such cases are being investigated others are in court undergoing trail at different stages.