Court orders arrest of Kenny Martins - Over N50bn police fund

Soji-Eze Fagbemi, Abuja - 01.05.2008

A magistrate’s court in Wuse, Abuja, has ordered the arrest of the National Coordinator of Police Equipment Fund (PEF), Chief Kenny Martins and his assistant, Ibrahim Dumuje, following their failure to appear before the court to answer questions on forgery brought against them before the court.

Following this declaration, Chief Martins and Mr. Dumuje have been declared wanted as the prosecution counsel, Stanley Nwodo, told the court that both men were at large and failed to answer several calls from the police.

Chief Magistrate Sunday Ochimana ordered their arrest on Wednesday after they failed to appear before the court to answer the two-count charge against them.

Both Martins and Dumuje were charged together with two other accused, Joni Icheka and Cosmos Okpara, over allegation of forgery.

While Icheka and Okpara were present in court yesterday, the prosecution counsel said Martins and Dumuje were at large.

Icheka and Okpara had their charges read to them in the court, but they pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each and a surety each.

However, a Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, who described himself as a friend of the court, stood up and said that the police were not sincere about prosecuting Martins because he is an in-law to former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

According to Keyamo, “Kenny Martins is an in-law to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The police are not sincere about prosecuting him. They did not want to bring him to court. Kenny Martins has five mobile policemen guarding him and the police are saying that he is at large.

“He organised a grand reception for his son who wedded in Lagos last week with most of the police chiefs in attendance. He also donated 25 Jeeps to the police about two weeks ago.”

Charges against Martins and others read: “That you, Joni Icheka, Cosmas Okpara, Kenny Martins and Ibrahim Dumuje (now at large) on or about the 31st day of March, 2006 at Corporate Affairs Commission, Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja, within the Abuja magisterial district, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: forge documents relating to Corporate Affairs Commission and thereby committed and offence punishable under section 96(1) the Penal Code, Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1999 (Abuja).

“That you, Joni Icheka, Cosmas Okpara, Kenny Martins and Ibrahim Dumuje (now at large) on or about the 31st day of March 2006 at same place within the Abuja magisterial district did forge form CAC.7 of NIGERSTALG LIMITED with intent to defraud the Police Equipment Fund and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 364 of Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990 (Abuja).”

The case was adjourned till next month.