An Abuja-based woman, Mrs Chinyere Amuchiena Igwegbe, has been arrested and charged by the Inspector-General of Police for allegedly blackmailing and supplying false information against a former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ikedi Ohakim.
Mrs Igwegbe who resides at Apo District of Abuja was said to have raised false allegations of conspiracy, intimidation, attempted kidnapping and threat to life against the former governor.
Igwegbe had earlier written a petition to the IGP, where she accused Ohakim of conspiracy, criminal intimidation, defamation of character, attempted kidnapping and threat to her life. She said she had paid Ohakim the sum of N500m for the purchase of land in Lagos during the 2019 general elections.
She also claims that Ohakim, alongside Okpareke, threatened to release a nude photograph of her to the general public through social media.
After investigations, the police realised her claims and allegations were baseless, and just aimed at blackmailing her victims.
The police have already filed a four-count criminal charge marked CR/187/2021 against her.
Her offences are punishable under section 140, of the Penal Code laws of Northern Nigeria and section 26 (3) of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.
In the charge signed by Matthew Omasun and Rotshang Faith Dimka, both of the Legal/ Prosecution Unit of the Force Headquarters in Abuja, Igwegbe is now being accused of supplying false information to the police with the intention to defame the former governor.
Count one of the charges reads: “that you, Chinyere Amuchienwa Igwegbe (f) of 7b Emeida Estate Apo, Abuja, FCT, on or about August 14, 2020, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did furnish police authorities with false information and via allegations in a petition by your solicitors, Agala and Agala chambers to a public servant against (1) Dr Ikedi Ohakim (2) Chinedu Okpareke on allegations of criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, defamation of character, attempted kidnapping and threat to life punishable with imprisonment, which could not be substantiated and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 140 of the Penal Code laws of Northern Nigeria.
In count two, the police accused her of furnishing the police authorities with false information via allegations in a petition against Dr Ikedi Ohakim on the false allegations that “you paid Dr Ikedi Ohakim the sum of N500m for the purchase of a land in Lagos during the 2019 election, an allegations which could not be substantiated.”
In count three, she was accused of “intentionally exposing her genital organs and intentionally caused distress to other parties and that you did so with a selfie video with intention of deriving sexual pleasure from such act and you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 26(3) of the violence against persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015.”
Although police authorities arrested the former governor and filed criminal charges against him, Igwegbe was later arrested when it was found that allegations in her petition were unsubstantiated claims.
She was arrested by police operatives at the premises of the Federal High Court in Abuja after a court session where the Inspector General of Police had applied to withdraw the charge against the former governor.
However, an earlier attempt to arraign her on the four-count charges could not hold due to the non-availability of the case file in the court prompting police to shift the arraignment to July 19.
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