Court Order on Police Equipment Boss
By Sebastine Obasi
Monday, May 05, 2008
An Abuja Chief Magistrate Court issues warrant of arrest on Kenny Martins
The last may not have been heard about the N50 billion fraud in the Police Equipment Fund, PEF. A Chief Magistrate Court in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory last Wednesday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Kenny Martins, national co-ordinator, PEF and Ibrahim Dumuje, his deputy. Sunday Ochimana, chief magistrate ordered their arrest following their failure to appear in court to stand trial alongside Cosmos Okpara and Joni Icheka, lawyers, who were arraigned over allegations of forgery and conspiracy.
Stanley Nwodo, prosecuting counsel told the court that Martins and Dumuje are at large. But Festus Keyamo, human rights activist, who appeared as a complainant and friend of the court, debunked Nwodo's claim. He accused the police of insincerity in bringing Martins and Dumuje to justice. According to him, Martins is an in-law of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the police are not sincere about prosecuting him. "Kenny Martins is an in-law to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The police are not sincere about prosecuting him. They do not want to bring him to court. Kenny Martins has five mobile police men guarding him and the police are saying that he is at large. He organised a grand reception for his daughter who wedded in Lagos last week with many police chiefs in attendance. He also donated 25 sports utility vehicles, SUVs, to the police about two weeks ago," he said.
Icheka and Okpara, who were present in the court, had the charges read to them. They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N.5 million each and a surety in like sum. The case was adjourned to June 4. The charges against Martin 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 amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: forge documents relating to Corporate Affairs Commission and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 96[1] of the penal code, Cap 532 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990[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 the 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 532 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990[Abuja].
When contacted, Princelyn Oduenyi, media adviser to Kenny Martins, said that Martins was not on the run. He pointed out that Martins had no reason to be at large. "He is in Lagos. He is not on the run. Dumuje is around too. All of us were in Abuja yesterday. They are not at large. Martins is very much around. He is moving about freely. He read about the story like any other Nigerian. He is not in hiding," Oduenyi said.
The media adviser also said that Martins has no police escorts as alleged in some quarters. "Martins has no escort and he does not need one. He is accessible anytime, any day. In fact, Martins is free man," he said.
|
