The Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Abuja High Court yesterday withdrew the four- count criminal charge filed against an Industrial Chemist and Group Managing Director of Re Care and Eunisell Limited, Chika Igenka.
Suffered five adjournments at the instance of the police which failed to produce the suspects for arraignment, the case finally got a chance before the court and was duly attended to.
Ikenga alongside one of his company, Eunisell Chemicals Limited and one Suraj Yakubu were to be arraigned yesterday on offences bordering on false information, forgery and false impersonation.
Ikenga is also a representative of many international companies including Lubrizol Corporation USA; Dow Chemicals; Clariant Oil Services United Kingdom and Rormex also in the United Kingdom.
However, when the case was called, the prosecution counsel, Faith Dimka informed that she has the instruction of the Inspector General of Police to withdraw the charge.
According to her, “My lord, the matter is scheduled today for arraignment but my lord, I have received directives from my office to withdraw the charge for a possible out of court settlement.”
The defence counsel, Mr. F. Onoja did not object to the withdrawal of the charge saying he was not going to ask for cost.
Accordingly, Justice A. B. Mohammed struck out the charge marked CR/361/16 between Inspector General of Police vs Chika Ikenga and 2 others.
Justice Mohammed held that since the court was not a warehouse, it was better to withdraw the charge and come back when the police is ready.
The development did not go down with the nominal complainants who alleged that they were not consulted by the police on the issue of out of court settlement.
The prosecution counsel said the alleged offences are punishable under sections 97, 140, 364 and 179 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria .
In count one of the charge sheet marked CR/362/2018, prosecution counsel, told the court that ” Chika Igenga, Suraj Yakubu and Eumisell Chemicals Limited on December 14, 2016 did conspire amongst yourselves to commit the offences of false information, forgery and false personation under section 97 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.
Count two reads, ” that you, Chika Igenga, Suraj Yakubu and Eunisell Chemicals Limited on December 14, 2016 did furnish police authorities with false information and allegations in a petition to a public servant against Mr.
Kenneth Amadi, Mrs. Happiness Kenneth and IDID Nigeria Ltd on allegations of false pretence, cheating, stealing and criminal conspiracy which could not be substantiated and thereby committed and offence punishable under section 140 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.
In count three, the trio were alleged to have ” forge the report excel sheet dated January 11, 2017 and imputed data which were not contained in the actual document and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 364 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.
While in count four, the prosecution alleged that the defendants ” did falsely present Suraj Yakubu (2nd defendant) as a Director of Eunisell, when in fact he is not registered in Corporate Affairs Commission as one of the Directors of the company (Eunisell) thereby committed an offence punishable under section 179 of the Penal Code Laws of Northern Nigeria.
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