Court okays fresh forgery charges against ex-NACCIMA boss

Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 18.01.2008

An Abuja high court on Thursday okayed an application by the Federal Government to prefer fresh charges of forgery against the former National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Clement Maduako.

It also allowed the prosecution to add more accused persons to face same trial. The application to amend the forgery charge against Maduako and others was brought on behalf of the government by its counsel, Okey Uzoho.

The prosecution had asked the court for an order granting it leave to amend the charges by adding more charges against the accused person and to allow it to include more persons who featured prominently in the case as accused persons.

The court, presided over by Justice Isaq Bello, had in his ruling, held that section 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the prosecution to amend the charges at any time during the proceedings.

According to him, “section 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code allows the prosecution to amend the charges at any time during the proceedings. It is, therefore, proper in my view, which is in keeping with the said proceedings to grant the application.

“I, therefore, overrule the objection of the defence counsel. I agree entirely with the prosecution that the entire opposition by the respondents fails and the application is granted as prayed,” he declared.