Nigerian Chief Magistrate Orders Arrest Of Anglican Priest Who Fled Anambra Court After Being Remanded In Prison
A Chief Magistrate in the Ogbaru Local Local Government Area of Anambra State has issued a warrant of arrest against an Anglican church priest, Rev. Ossy Molokwu (rtd) who was accused of land fraud.
SaharaReporters gathered that Molokwu ran away from the court premises on July 4, to evade incarceration after the magistrate court delivered judgment on the case and ordered that he be remanded in the correctional centre in Onitsha, pending his compliance with the order of the court.
The warrant of arrest dated July 5, 2024 was to be made available to the Nigeria Police Force through the Commissioner of Police in the state, to arrest the fleeing cleric on sight if he did not submit himself to the correctional centre in Onitsha.
The court had ordered that Molokwu be remanded in prison custody pending when he restores “four plots of land and including N1.2 million as compensation fine to the nominal complainant, Nduka Johnson Mozie”.
Nnazimuzo A. Ugorji, the prosecuting counsel for the Nominal Plaintiff, Nduka Johnson Mozie, said on July 4, at the court, Molokwu who was about to be remanded in prison custody until he fulfilled the conditions issued by the court, fled the court premises under the pretence that he wanted to use the bathroom.
Ugorji said, “A judgment was delivered on July 4, 2024 by His Worship Chinwe O. Aniekwensi, following a suit with charge number: MGB/39C/2021 brought by the Police.
“In his judgment, His Worship C. O. Aniekwensi, ruled that the defendant be remanded in the correctional center pending when he complies with the order of the court.”
“Finally, on the 4th of July 2024, judgment was delivered and the defendant, Rev Ossy Molokwu was found guilty.
“He pretended to go and ease himself but before the attention of anybody could get to him, he jumped into his car and zoomed off,” Ugorji said.
He said that on July 5, the court signed and issued a warrant of arrest ordering that Molokwu be arrested anywhere he is found and remanded in the correctional centre in Onitsha.
