NIGERIAN Lawyers Renaissance Forum (NLRF), has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to disregard all distractions emanating from certain quarters and prosecute, with immediate effect, one Mr. Victor Uwajeh for fraud, forgery and possession of false documents.
The group made this known to journalists at its secretariat in Abuja, on Tuesday.
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Recall that Mr. Uwajeh had, in attempting to blackmail the lawmaker representing Anambra South, Senator Andy Uba.
Uwajeh alleged that the Senator had forged his WAEC certificate.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker promptly responded to the news by reporting the matter to the police who invited Uwajeh to present his own part of the case.
The case was then investigated where it was discovered that the documents tendered by Uwajeh were forged, resulting into the serving of a criminal summons by the government upon Mr. Uwajeh early this year.
The criminal summons constituted a four count charge before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court Abuja, over allegations bordering on fraud, possession of false documents and forgery.
However, Uwajeh has since then been on the run as the government through the prosecuting counsel has not been able to serve Uwajeh with the criminal summons. A.K Alilu told newsmen then that Mr. Uwajeh had disappeared and had even opted for an out of court settlement with Senator Uba.
It was, thus, to this end that the Nigerian Lawyers Renaissance Forum made its Appeal to the IGP to go ahead with the prosecution of Mr. Uwajeh who it said was a known scammer and serial blackmailer.
In its statement, signed by Barrister Jide Oyekan and Barrister Nnamdi Ugbojikwe, the forum commended the duo of Senator Uba and the IGP for not bowing to Uwajeh’s tactics as he was known to have blackmailed several Nigerians with such tactics using forged documents .
The statement reads in part: “It has come to our notice that with the intended prosecution of one Victor Uwajeh who is perhaps Nigeria’s King of blackmailers and forgers, the country may just be rid of such elements who have taken blackmail as their stock in trade.
“We wish to note that several distinguished Nigerians of repute have fallen victim to this criminal and have complied not because the blackmail had any substance but because they didn’t want any form of bad publicity.
“Thankfully, for us and many others who will never again fall victim to such a fellow, Senator Uba stood his ground and even reported the matter to the Inspector General of Police, who ordered an investigation and found out that documents and allegations tendered by Uwajeh were false and obtained via forgery.
“This was followed with the serving of a criminal summons to which Mr. Uwajeh has artfully dodged knowing that the game is over.
“Sadly, owing to the fact that we have some bad eggs still in the legal profession just like every other profession, we were surprised when we read in the news offered by online media that petitions had been written accusing the IGP of scuttling the investigation in favour of Senator Uba.
“We are much saddened by this move as it appears to be an attempt to wear upon Uwajeh the toga of a victim whereas he is the predator.
“We are therefore calling on the IGP and other interested parties to shun such distractions and carry out their conventional duties. If indeed Uwajeh does not have a case to answer, why then is he on the run?
“Why is he avoiding been served the sermons? Like it is said, a clear conscience fears no accusation, Uwajeh should make himself available for service of the criminal summons.
“We are also forwarding a petition to the Nigerian Bar Association’s disciplinary committee to sanction some of these lawyers who are smearing the legal practice. “
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