After two unsuccessful attempts, the federal government Tuesday finally arraigned two journalists with Leadership Newspapers, Tony Amokeodo and Chibuzor Ukaibe, before a Federal High Court on a six-count charge of felony and conspiracy against the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Amokeodo, the Group News Editor of the Abuja-based media outfit, and Ukaibe, its political reporter, were arraigned along with Leadership Group Ltd, which was represented by a Group Executive Director of the company, Dr. Mike Okpere.
They pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.
Another accused person, Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani, was said to be at large.
They were accused of conspiracy to commit felony by allegedly forging a document titled “Presidential Directive” with the seal of the office of the president and published same in the April 3 edition of the newspaper.
The offence was said to have contravened and punishable under section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap “C” 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The prosecutor, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), said publishing the document, which purportedly emanated from the office of the president, was punishable under section 461 (1) (b) of the Criminal Code Act Cap “c” 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
The accused persons were also alleged to have on April 3, conspired and fraudulently utter a false document titled “Presidential Directive” with the seal of the office of the president and published it to the prejudice of the president, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 468 of the Criminal Code Act Cap “C” 38.
However, the accused persons denied all the charges.
When their counsel, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), applied for bail for his clients, which he implored the court to grant on liberal terms, the federal government did not object.
But Awomolo asked the court to make the bail conditions stringent.
Arguing his case for the bail conditions to be on liberal terms, Falana told the court that the accused persons have been attending the court on their own and from their houses since the trial commenced two weeks ago.
Justice Ademola Adeniyi admitted them to bail in the sum of N500,000 each and a surety each in the like sum.
The surety must however be a landed property owner in Abuja and must swear to affidavit of means.
The case has been adjourned until May 16 for trial.
Earlier, the judge had ruled that the accused persons did not need to be served with the statements of the witnesses before their plea could be taken by the court.
An attempt by Falana to stall the arraignment again was made when he orally challenged the jurisdiction of the court but Justice Adeniyi overruled him and asked him to come with formal application to that effect during the trial.
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