By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
The Federal High Court Abuja, has ordered the National Identification Management Commission(NIMC) to immediately release bio-data of David Ukpo to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court.
Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo issued the order following a request to that by the Commission and in response to the request of the detained former Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, Ike Ekweremadu to defend himself in a London court.
On July 1, the court ordered NIMC, Stanbic-IBTC Bank; United Bank of Africa (UBA) and Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc, to provide Ukpo’s National Identification Number (NIN):19438077110, which is in the possession of the respondents, for the purpose of facilitating the criminal investigation and tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants with respect to Ukpo’s age in the criminal charges against them before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court.
However, at Wednesday proceedings, NIMC represented by Mr Muazu Mohammed informed Justice Ekwo that his client could not obey the order of the Court because it was not served with hearing notice before the order was issued against it.
Mohammed who earlier asked for revocation of the order later amended his motion on notice.
In place of revocation of the order, the counsel requested that his client be directed to submit information on David Ukpo to the AGF instead of Ekweremadu for onward transmission to the United Kingdom Court detaining the Nigerian Senator.
The request was not opposed by Chief Adegboyega Awomolo SAN who stood for Ekweremadu.
Justice Ekwo subsequently granted the request and ordered NIMC to submit the Bionica to the AGF for onward transmission to London Court.
Recall that the court, also, at the last adjourned date, directed the Nigerian immigration to supply the applicants with the documents and application form of David Nwamini Ukpo in the possession of the 2nd respondent presented for the issuance of International passport No. BO0569974 for the purpose of assisting criminal investigation and tendering same before the Uxbridge Magistrate Court, UK until July 7 in the alleged criminal charge brought against the applicants.
Also, Stanbic-IBTC Bank was also ordered to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 0032551834 maintained by its customer, Ukpo, with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants with respect to his age in the criminal charges filed against the applicants.
As well as UBA was directed to supply the applicants with the Certified True Copy of mandate card and account opening package of account No. 2195739574 maintained by Ukpo with Bank Verification Number 22509616391 in the custody of the bank, for the purpose of tendering same to establish the innocence of the applicants.
