Court commits House of Reps member, Ogah to Kuje prison over alleged criminal defamation

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has committed a member of the House of Representatives, Amobi Godwin Ogar, to Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, over allegations bordering on criminal defamation and false declaration.

Justice Yusuf Halilu issued the committal order shortly after the federal lawmaker representing Abia State was arrested and brought before the court.

According to the committal order, dated June 24 and sighted by our correspondent on Thursday, the federal legislator will remain in custody until July 6, when the case is scheduled to resume.

The court document, titled Warrant of Commitment to Prison, indicated that the federal lawmaker is standing trial in Charge No. CR/650/2024. It reads in part:

“The Officer in Charge of the prison at Kuje, whereas the above-named person has been arrested and brought before me, accused of the offences of criminal defamation and false declaration, you are hereby authorised and required to receive him and detain him in custody until further order; provided that, if no further order has been made as to his disposal before July 6, 2026, you shall deliver him to a police officer to bring him before me with this warrant for an order as to his disposal.”

It will be recalled that the federal government, on July 31, 2024, filed a five-count criminal charge against the Abia lawmaker bordering on alleged criminal defamation and false declaration.

In count one, the lawmaker was alleged to have, sometime in May 2023, made a false declaration in an affidavit at the registry of the FCT High Court, Abuja, dated May 18, 2023, against Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, then Minister of State for Labour and Employment, in which he allegedly claimed that, during a meeting with her supporters at her residence, she told them she had “bought over” the tribunal judges, particularly Hon. Justice Halima Saleeman. The charge stated that he knew the allegation was false, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 164 of the Penal Code, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1963, punishable under Section 158(2) of the same Act.

In count two, he was accused of making another false and defamatory declaration in the same affidavit dated May 18, 2023, alleging that the former minister had influenced the removal of the former chairman of the panel, Hon. Justice Halilu, to pave the way for Hon. Justice Halima Saleeman, whom she allegedly knew personally and who would deliver judgment in her favour. The prosecution alleged that the statement was false and constituted an offence contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1963, punishable under Section 392 of the same Act.

Count five reads: “That you, Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, male, 44 years, a member representing Isuikwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency of Abia State, sometime in May 2023, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court in the FCT, Abuja, committed an offence by making a false declaration against Hon. Nkeiruka Chidubem Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Federal Republic of Nigeria, with intent to destroy her reputation, as a result of which she suffered harm to her reputation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 393 of the Penal Code, Cap. 89, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1963, and punishable under the same section of the Act.”