Court Orders Prosecuting State Counsel To File An Amended Charge In Case Involving Ex-NBA Benin Branch Pub. Secretary
By Simeon OSAJIE
A Benin High Court, Criminal Division, has ordered a prosecuting State Counsel to file an amended charge in the case involving a former Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin branch, Douglas Ogbankwa.
The ruling was in view of issues raised on whether or not, plea can be taken in the matter whereas, one of the charges was earlier struck out by the Court and the Prosecution was yet to amend the charge.
Counsel to the Defendant, E. Egharevba, told the court that he had a motion to set aside the ruling made by the Court on the last adjourned date, but the trial Judge, Hon. Justice Williams Aziegbemhin, urged him to go on appeal if he was not satisfied with the Court’s ruling.
The Court emphasized that it should not be seen by members of the public that the Court was trying to prevent the matter from going on, having suffered series of adjournment.
The Prosecution Counsel, D. Haruna, argued that the application aimed at setting aside the Court’s ruling and quashing the charge, was a violation of Section 221 of the Administration of Criminals Justice Law, adding that non-amendment of a charge, cannot stop plea from being taken.
Following heated argument on the fate of the motion, the Defendant, Douglas Ogbankwa, collected the case file from his Counsel, E. Egharevba, opting to conduct the matter by himself being a lawyer.
Ogbankwa also raised the issue of the matter being reported by the press, causing him series of embarrassment, but Abraham Oviawe who is Counsel holding the nominal complainant’s watching brief, expressed excitement over the turn of events against the Defendant who initially invited the Press into the matter.
The nominal Complainant, Ms Sandra Palmer-Kelvin, told the Court that Douglas Ogbankwa brought in the Press, addressing her as a surrogate mother amongst other allegations.
The matter was consequently adjourned to 2nd April, 2025.
It would be recalled that the Defendant was initially charged with alleged conspiracy to commit a felony, forcible entry, wilful damage, theft, aiding and abetting and forceful ejection.
The prosecution also alleged that the ex-NBA Publicity Secretary stole a stabiliser belonging to Ms Sandra Palmer-Kelvin and also forcefully ejected her from her matrimonial home at 2nd Ugbor Road, G.R.A, Benin City, in January 2023.
