Justice Maureen Adaobi Onyetenu of the Federal High Court, Abakaliki,  Ebonyi state Thursday February 18, 2014 issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Dr. Paul Ajah, former Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State.

Ajah who was formally arraigned on May 6, 2013 is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for abuse of office and money laundering. On June 12, 2013 when the matter last came up for hearing, the accused informed the court the he had filed a motion seeking to quash the charges preferred against him
However, prosecuting counsel, Mainforce Adaka Ekwu urged the court to dismiss the defendant’s motion. The court adjourned the matter to  February18,  2014 for ruling.
However, when the matter was called on Thursday, the accused person was not in court, while his counsel could not offer any reasonable explanation for the absence of his client.

Consequently, Adaka urged the court to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of the accused person, contending that  his absence was a ploy to delay the trial.
 
 Justice Onyetenu granted the prosecution counsel’s application and made an order for the arrest of the accused person.

The matter was adjourned to March 10, 2014..

Media & Publicity
19th February, 2014