Court absolves Omo-Agege of perjury
A High Court sitting in Bwari, federal capital territory (FCT) on Wednesday dismissed a suit seeking the sack of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege over allegations of perjury.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Bwari court received the suit filed by Incorporated Trustee of Patriotic Youth Organization of Nigeria, who are seeking to sack Omo-Agege on allegation that he concealed information about his earlier conviction in the United States (U.S.).
The trial judge, Justice Othman Musa dismissed the suit for lacking in merit, and in his judgment held that Omo-Agege was never convicted by any court in the U.S.
Justice Musa held that there was no evidence before the court that Senator Omo-Agege was convicted or indicted over any corruption charge.
Justice Musa held that the suit was a mere waste of the court’s time, ruling that there was no evidence that Omo-Agege was ever convicted by any court of law nor was he under any criminal sentence.
The court also held that Omo-Agege was under no obligation to furnish the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with such information even if it was true.
The trial judge also ordered the plaintiff to pay Omo-Agege the sum of N1 million in damages, while stressing that the disciplinary proceedings involving Omo-Agege in the State of California in the US, even if it ended in punitive action could not be elevated to criminal proceedings, convicting and sentencing as provided under Section 66 (1) and (2) of the Constitution.
The judge said the conviction recognised by the Constitution, and which could prevent one from holding public office in the country for 10 years is the conviction and sentencing entered by a Nigerian court, not a court of foreign jurisdiction.