Douglas Ogbankwa, former Press Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Benin, late Thursday at the secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Edo State, assulted journalists, including the State NUJ chairman, Festus Alenkhe, and others, over an online report of an alleged theft case brought against him by the State.
Ogbankwa was to be arraigned before a criminal court in Benin City for allegedly assaulting the home of Sandra Palmer-Kelvin over alleged issues with Ogbankwa’s client, Sandra’s husband, who lives in Denmark.
When his case was before the court, several lawyers, including the Chairman of the Benin branch of the NBA, Nosa Edo-Osagie, Emmanuel Usoh and others, asked the judge to allow them to intervene in the matter, which they assured would be settled.
He was at the NUJ premises with plainclothes policemen to arrest a blogger, Friday Aghedo, who had posted on his site about the day’s activities at the court.
Other journalists who witnessed what happened informed the NUJ chairman who immediately met with the policemen and informed them that they should have announced their presence to the leadership of the union but assured them that the Aghedo would honour their invitation, whereupon Ogbankwa turned to the NUJ chairman and shouted: “Alenkhe, even you I will come for you” ” and then threatened other journalists present, including the Chief of Staff to Alenkhe, Simeon Osajie, the State Correspondent of Vanguard newspaper, Ozioruva Aliu, the Secretary to the Council, Andy Egbon, the Treasurer of the Council, Solomon Obonzuya and several others,
In the charge sheet numbered B/10/600/2024 between the state and Douglas Ogbankwa and others now at large, they are accused of allegedly stealing a stabiliser belonging to Sandra Palmer-Kelvin.
He is charged with a felony punishable under Section 412 of the Edo State Criminal Law of 2022, among others.
The charge sheet also states that “Ogbankwa and others now at large, sometimes in January 2023 at 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA Benin within Benin Judicial Division, conspired to commit a felony, namely: forcible entry”, which is punishable under Section 56 (1) of the Edo State Penal Code of 2022.
“Douglas Ogbankwa and others now at large, in January 2023, at 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State within Benin Judicial Division, forcibly entered the residence of one Sandra Palmer-Kelvin and damaged the door keys belonging to one Sandra Palmer-Kelvin.
“Douglas Ogbankwa and others now at large, sometimes in January 2023 at 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA, Benin City, Edo State within Benin Judicial Division, stole a stabilizer belonging to one Sandra Palmer-Kelvin”
Justice Ikponmwonba, however, adjourned the case for a report on the settlement of the case, which was not adopted.
The prosecution counsel, Mr. Orobosa Okunbor, however, did not object to the defendant counsel’s application.
Ex-NBA publicity secretary, Ogbankwa attacks Edo NUJ Chairman over report of alleged stealing
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