Former NACCIMA boss arraigned for forgery
By Tobi Soniyi, Abuja
Published: Friday, 6 Jul 2007
Former President of Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Nze Clement Maduako was on Thursday arraigned before an Abuja High Court on a three-count charge of forgery.

He was accused of using a forged letterhead paper of the National Hospital, Abuja to write a letter to a senior magistrate court in Nyanya, excusing himself from attending court.

Maduako, however pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to him.

According to the charges, he allegedly committed the offence on February 12, 2004 and was declared wanted.

After a while a bench warrant was issued against him.

The accused was brought to the court on Thursday by his lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN) to face his charges.

Kalu apologised to the court for the absence of his client in court during the last two proceedings in the case.

He also asked the court to vacate its warrant of arrest on him.

Kalu said, ”Now that the accused person has pleaded not guilty, I ask that the bench warrant issued on him be vacated. He came voluntarily. I apologise for his absence on the day the bench warrant was issued and similarly at the last adjourned date, June 19.

He then applied that the accused person be admitted to bail but the application was opposed by the counsel to the Federal Government, Mallam C. Barkum.

The trial judge, Justice Ishaq Bello however vacated the bench warrant and also granted him bail.

Barkum had told the court to dismiss the requests by Maduako, saying ”we are opposing his bail application because of the nature of the offence which attracts seven years imprisonment upon conviction.

Replying, Kalu said, “He has just been arraigned. He is an eminent citizen of this country. ”Where is he running to? If he does not come, the court can issue another bench warrant on him. He is a former President of NACCIMA. No useful purpose would be served sending him to prison.

The judge consequently vacated the bench warrant issued on Maduako and released him on bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum.

Ruling, Justice Bello said, ”He is released in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum and not on self recognition.”

The criminal case stemmed from a civil matter between the Chairman of Omeire Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industries, Dr. M. O. Kanu and the Chairman of NIGERCEM, Maduako touching on money matters.

The matter came to court and during one of the proceedings in the case before the Senior Magistrate Court, Nyanya, Abuja, Maduako was absent in court.

I do not think this guy has a job for his lyf. Are u ok at all?

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