Another whistle blower lands in prison for giving false information

The Nigeria Police Force on Tuesday arraigned a 50-year-old man, Ahmed Echodo, for allegedly misleading the police to conduct a raid at a building belonging to the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Friday.

According to the one-count charge, two defendants were accused of the offense, although only Mr. Echodo was arraigned at a magistrate court in Abuja.

Security operatives had ransacked Mr. Ekweremadu's building on Friday morning following information accusing the occupants of criminal offenses. They found nothing incriminating during the search.

According to the charge, the men, Mr. Echodo and Maiwada Adamu, are accused of conspiring to falsely inform the office of the IGP that the building, occupied by Oliver Ogenyi, is being maintained and used for criminal activities including storage of arms and ammunition.

The second accused, Mr. Adamu, was not in court while the first defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge. The prosecution counsel, Ismail Tawo, informed the court that Mr. Adamu was at large.

The magistrate, Umar Kagarko, asked the police to find and present him in court at the next sitting. The counsel to the defense, Peter Ngwoke, prayed the court to grant his client bail. Mr. Kagarko adjourned till June 5, for ruling on the bail application.