FG withdraws forgery suit against two Leadership journalists

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NIGERIA: AFTER over 880 days of initial appearance in court for alleged forgery of presidential bromide, two journalists with the Leadership newspapers have been left off the hook.

The Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari has withdrawn the suit filed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan against the journalists.

The government in a letter dated September 23, 2015 with reference number FCT/HC/CR/6755/2013 directed that Chibuzo Ukaibe (Political Correspondent) and Tony Amokeodo (Group News Editor) should be allowed to go home scot-free.

The letter, which asked the prosecuting counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, to halt further prosecution of the journalists, was signed by the Director of Public Prosecution, Muhammad Diri.

The letter was made available on Wednesday to the GatewayMail in Abuja.

Ukaibe and Amokeodo were accused of forging a presidential bromide said to have been published in an edition of the Leadership newspaper, which government viewed as embarrassing to the administration of Jonathan, who was defeated in the March 28, 2015 presidential election by Buhari.

The said bromide was alleged to have been published on the front page of the Abuja-based newspaper on April 3, 2013.

At a point the journalists were allowed to go, but were again arrested for prosecution on 11-count charge of conspiracy and forgery.