Udeze, Ex AA National Chairman Rearraigned Over Allleged Forgery, Fraud

A former National Chairman of the Action Alliance (AA), Mr Kenneth Udeze, was on Tuesday rearraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate Court.
Also arraigned alongside Udeze were former National Secretary of the party, Mr James Vernibe and Oluwagbemi Ogunmodede.
The accused persons were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.
However, they all pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them.

The embattled former National Chairman of AA had earlier been remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre after he was arraigned before the court.
Udeze, who was recently expelled by the leadership of the party, was arrested by operatives of Zone 11 of the Nigerian Police Force, with headquarters in Osogbo.

He was alleged to have replaced the name of the duly elected governorship candidate of the party in the State of Osun with another person during the 2018 governorship election held in the state.
Appearing before the court on Tuesday, Udeze and other defendants were granted provisional bail by Magistrate Adebola Ajanaku who presided over the court.
Magistrate Ajanaku also ruled that all the sureties standing for the accused persons should appear in court on May 25, 2021 being the next adjourning date.

According to the charge sheet read in court, Udeze and other defendants had in July 2018 conspired to commit felony and fraud, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code, laws of Osun State.

Also, Udeze was alleged to have fraudulently ultered the documents of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and presented same as original.

The offence was said to be contrary to the provisions of section 468 and punishable under section 469 of the criminal code, laws of Osun State.

However, counsel to the defendants, Mr M O Olaniyan urged the court to allow his clients enjoy the bail already granted them by the court.
Although, the Police Prosecutor, Mr Olufemi Olanipekun had opposed the bail application, the court held that the accused persons be allowed to enjoy the bail already granted them.

Magistrate Ajanaku, after granting the accused persons bail, adjourned the case to May 25, 2021.