The absence of a prosecutor Friday stalled the continuation of the trial of the President, Initiative for the Eradication of Poverty and Empowerment of the Disabled (IFEPED), Victor Clifford Ugwu.
The 47-year-old, Ugwu (a physically challenged man) was arraigned at the Enugu North Magistrate Court 1, Enugu. Ugwu is facing one-count charge for allegedly impersonating the Ministry of Children, Gender affairs and Social Development with the intent to defraud the general public.
The charge reads: “That you Ugwu Victor Clifford on or before 7th day of November, 2024 at Enugu and other locations within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did by false pretence and with intent to defraud members of the public, personate that you are a staff of Ministry of Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Enugu and the Ministry collaborate with your own NGO which you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 460 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II”.
The IFEPED President was arrested, arraigned and granted bail on December 13th, 2024, for the said offence by the Enugu State Police Command. After his bail in December 2024, Ugwu has appeared four times without hearing or any argument by the prosecutor, leaving the disabled man to suffer unnecessarily.
When the matter was called for hearing, on Friday, the defence counsels, Gab Agu Gab with Ijeoma Nwabueze representative of J.O. Udensi & Co. prayed the court to strike out the matter due to lack of interest by the prosecutor, adding that this was the fourth time the defendant appeared in the court, since his arraignment without the appearance of the prosecutor.
“We pray that the matter be struck out for lack of interest on the part of prosecutor. We have been here for four times and the complainant and prosecutor will not be here. There is nothing in the charge. There is nothing in the record and I think they don’t have anything. If they’re not ready with the prosecution, they should let him go,” Agu prayed the court.
But the Presiding Magistrate, Osondu S Chukwuani asked him to pick a date after which the matter could be struck out. The Magistrate, Chukwuani however adjourned the matter till September 26, 2025, for hearing.
But speaking to the press, defence counsel, Agu Gab Agu bemoaned the fact that the Ministry was persecuting the disabled man who is doing the work of government by empowering the disabled and less privileged people.
“The president of IFEPED is even helping the government to do what they should have done by Empowerment of the disabled and indigents. But instead of assisting him they’re prosecuting him,” he said.
