Fake Whistle Blower Info Led To Raid On Ekweremadu’s House

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An Abuja Upper Area Court has remanded one Ahmed Echodo in Keffi Prison, Nasarawa State, for allegedly providing false information to the police leading to the raid on the official Guest House of the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in Maitama, Abuja.

Presiding Judge, Umar Kagarko, gave the remand order after the defendant pleaded not guilty to allegations of criminal conspiracy and giving false information to mislead police.

The police were said to have executed a search warrant on Ekweremadu’s official guest house on Friday, May 26 based on the alleged false information given by Echodo.

A steward in Ekweremadu’s guest house, Oliver Ogenyi, was said to have been arrested during the police operation and reportedly taken to the Inspector General of Police Special Squad Office in Guzape District, Abuja, before he was later released.

The Police said the accused person Echodo conspired with one Maiwa Adamu to commit the alleged offences contrary to section 97(1) and 140 of the Penal Code Law.

The charges read: “That on May 26, 2017, at about 0900hrs, you Ahmed Echodo, ‘m, aged 50 years of No. 44, Living Truth Street, Masaaka, Nasarawa State and one Maiwada Adamu (now at large) did conspire with yourselves by informing the office of IGP, STS at Guzape Area of the FCT, Abuja, that House No. 10 Games Street, Maitama, FCT, Abuja occupied by Oliver Ogenyi is being maintained and used for criminal activities including keeping of arms and ammunition.

“Unfortunately, after the police carried out diligence execution of the search warrant, no incriminating items were found therein.

“You, by such action, misled the police and hereby committed the above offences.”

The defendant pleaded not guilty to the offences on Tuesday.

When asked by the judge whether he understood the charges against him, he demanded that the police be made to state whether the alleged false information he gave was in written or oral form.

Echodo said, “They (police) have not shown me how the information was passed to them by me. Was it oral or written? When they went to the house with Wada (who was said to be at large), I was not there.”

Having pleaded not guilty, the prosecuting police officer asked for an adjournment for trial, but the defence lawyer, Peters Ugwuoke, made an oral bail application, urging the court to grant bail to his client pending trial.

Ugwuoke said his client would not jump bail and would never interfere with investigation or trial, adding that the defendant was ready to provide reasonable persons to stand as sureties for him.

The presiding judge subsequently adjourned the case until June 5 for ruling on the bail application.