Abia: Gov Orji’s aide docked over theft of mosquito nets

Posted by admin Abia, State News Friday, April 22nd, 2011

One of the Special Assistants to Governor Theodore Orji of Abia, Mallam Ellington Chibbel was yesterday docked for stealing mosquito nets donated to Aba Muslim community by the state government.
The charge included the intent to defraud the Aba Muslim community and falsely representing the community and collecting about 10 bales of mosquito nets donated by the governor to the community, an offence punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation.

The second charge was stealing about 10 bales of mosquito net, property of the Muslim community in Aba represented by Sarki Ibrahim Abubakar and two others, an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable to Abia State.

The charge read in part: “That you, Mallam Ellington I. Chibbel ‘m’ on or about the 8th day of April 2011 at Aba South Local Government secretariat in the Aba South Magisterial in the Aba South District with intent to defraud the Muslim community in Aba, represented by Sarki Ibrahim Bello Abubakar, Alhaji Idris Bashir and Alhaji Musa Iheakaram, falsely presented yourself to be representing the Muslim community in Aba and collected about 10 bales of mosquito nets donated by the state government and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 484 of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Abia State.

“That you, Mallam Ellington I. Chibbel “m on or about the 8th day of April 2011 at Aba South Local Government secretariat in the Aba South Magisterial District, stole about 10 bales of mosquito nets value not yet known, property of Muslim community in Aba and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 Laws of the Federation 2004 as applicable in Abia State.”

When the charges were read, the accused, 40, pleaded not guilty to the two-count charge.
Mr. F. O. Onuabueke, counsel to the accused urged the court to grant his client bail since the case before it was a bailable offence. He said the discretional power to grant bail resided with the magistrate.
But the prosecution counsel, Okezie Uche opposing the bail application, said “the bail is entirely administration of the court but there are certain factors to be looked into before granting the bail.’’
He said there was the possibility of the accused committing the same offence while on bail and the likelihood of the accused harassing the prosecution witnesses.

Uche said conducted investigation had shown that Chibbel was in the habit of committing the same offence, noting that if granted bail by the court, the accused person had no reliable address and was not sure he would be produced in court. “The essence of bail is to ensure that the accused attend to court. If he jumped bail, the aim will be defeated,’’ he said.

After listening to the arguments for bail by both the prosecution and defence counsel, the presiding magistrate, E.E. Onuoha, said the offence was bailable and granted the accused bail in the sum of N150,000 and one surety in like sum. The surety must have three years tax clearance and live within the jurisdiction of Aba South Magisterial District.

The case was adjourned to May 17 for further hearing.

-Sunwp_posts