By Austin Ogwuda

Asaba—FOUR top officials of Democratic Peoples Party, DPP, in Delta State were, yesterday, arraigned before a magistrate court in Asaba , on a 15-count charge of  allegedly forging a West African Examination Council, WAEC, result purportedly belonging to the former Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Dr. Olisa Imegwu, as a ploy to stop him from contesting the House of Representatives election in 2011.

Arraigned were Paul Chibogu 63, Ossai Abey 70, Mgbadike Goddey 52 and Raphael Opute 68.

When the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail.

The charge preferred against the accused persons read: “That you (accused persons) and others now at large, on February 11, 2011, in Asaba,  with intent to defraud and facilitate the removal and substitution of  Dr. Imegwu as the candidate-elect under DPP for Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency, knowing and fraudulently altered a forged WAEC result credited to one Obi Olisa with candidate number 15803/332 and purported to have been issued by the above mentioned council, so that it would be acted upon as genuine and thereby committed an offence under section 468 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. C21 Vol. Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006.”

There was, however, a mild drama following an oral application made by the prosecution counsel, who told the court that it would be proper for the defence counsel to withdraw his legal representation in view of the fact that he was Imegwu’s lawyer and had even represented Imegwu in a similar matter at Abuja.

The defence faulted the argument, while trial Magistrate, Mr. Sylvester Ehikwe, told parties to resolve the issue of representation raised, based on integrity and ethical standards.