Court orders arrest of Senator over fake NYSC certificate

A Lugbe Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the senator representing Bayelsa West Senatorial Zone, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, over alleged failure to appear before it.

NAN reports that Ewhrudjakpo failed to appear in court after the court summoned him over a pre-election suit filed against him by Mr Benjamin Youdiowei, Chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa.

The plaintiff alleged that Ewhrudjakpo presented a fake NYSC Certificate with code No: 139708 dated Feb. 2, 1998 on his nomination form to INEC.

He alleged that the defendant committed the offence of cheating, impersonation, forgery which were at variant with sections 363, 368, 366 and 324 of the Penal Code.

At the resumed trial, Mr. Seidu Jibrin, Counsel for the plaintiff, told the court that the matter was fixed for hearing but expressed concerns that the defendant had consistently failed to honour the summons.

However, Mr Ijere A.O, Counsel to Ewhrudjakpo apologised for the absence of the defendant adding that his client traveled out of the court’s jurisdiction.

Ijere prayed the court to grant the defendant one more date to enable him to appear.

Jibrin opposed the application of the defendant’s counsel and prayed the court to issue a bench warrant to ensure Sen. Ewhrudjakpo appears under section 352(1), 131 and 134 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.

Jibrin told the court that Ewhrudjakpo was aware of the case, adding that the defendant was duly served with the notice of sitting.

Delivering his ruling, the judge, Abubakar Sadiq held that the defendant was aware of the case but chose to stay away.

Sadiq further ordered the police to report to the court before Dec. 11, 2019.