TheCable

Eleven members of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) were on Thursday, brought before an Amawbia chief magistrates’ court in Awka, over alleged impersonation and forgery.

According to NAN, the defendants are Chidi Orakwue; Alagwu Odife; Kenechi Ezeibe; Chidi Nzekwe; Ifeanyi Nworah; Victormary Anuna; Ifeanyi Okam; Chukwunonso Okaka; Patrick Nwalutu; Ugochukwu Igbokwe and Onyebuchi Nwankwo.

They are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, altering of documents, forgery, impersonation, malicious damage of NULGE property, and placing the union’s president in fear of physical injury and anxiety.

When the charges were read to them, the defendants pleaded not guilty.

Chuka Nwezi, the police prosecutor, said the life of Chikwelu Anigwe, Anambra NULGE president is in danger.

Nwezi told the court the defendants allegedly kept issuing death threats to the NULGE president even when the matter was under investigation.

He said the offences contravened sections 495(a), 443(1), 495(a) and 415(1) of the criminal laws of Anambra, 1991 as well as section 6(1) of violence against persons prohibition law of the state, 2017.

The prosecutor prayed the court to give the matter an accelerated hearing and also give an order for the remand of the defendants in the interest of peace.

Responding, Basil Aguigwo, the defence counsel, said the charges were bailable offences, adding that the court has jurisdiction to grant such bail.

Aguigwo told the magistrate that the defendants are civil servants on grade levels 14 and 15, respectively and would not disobey court summons.

Nonyelum Anyaegbunam, the chief magistrate, admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N50,000 each, with two sureties in like sum.

She urged the parties to be of good behaviour pending the outcome of the matter.

The magistrate adjourned the case to September 12 for a hearing.