Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
A Benin High Court has put a stop to a case of alleged theft filed against the former Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Benin branch, Douglas Ogbankwa
Ogbankwa and others, at large, in January 2023, at 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA, Benin, within the judicial division, allegedly damaged door keys belonging to Sandra Palmer-Kelvin.
The prosecution alleged that Ogbankwa and others damaged door keys belonging to Sandra Palmer-Kelvin and stole one stabilizer belonging to her, also forcefully ejecting her from her matrimonial home.
Ogbankwa was charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, forcible entry, willful damage, theft, forceful ejection, and aiding and abetting forceful ejection.
The offence contravened sections 412, 56(1), 353, 294(1) of the Criminal Law of Edo State 2022 and section 14(3) of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law of Edo State 2021.
Announcing the discontinuance of the case, the presiding judge, Justice Rachael Ogbevoen, said that, there was a letter from the Attorney-General’s office, written by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), indicating that they would discontinue the case.
She said the case fell under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution, which gives the Attorney-General the power to discontinue a matter at any stage before judgment is delivered.
Earlier, before Justice Ogbevoen discontinued the case, she directed that the accused should be docked.
Subsequently, Ogbankwa was arraigned, and he pleaded not guilty to the offenses filed against him.
Ogbankwa had appeared before Justice Efe Ikponmwonba on March 28, 2024, but the plea was not taken as one of the defense counsel, Emmanuel Usoh, appealed to the court to give his client more time to resolve the issues.
The prosecution counsel, Orobosa Okunbor, however, did not oppose the application.
Subsequently, Justice Ikponmwonba adjourned the case to July 6, 2024 for a settlement report.
However, the case was reassigned to Justice Williams Aziegbemhin.
Upon being called up, the case suffered several setbacks at the instance of the prosecution.
On April 2, 2025, Mr. Ogbankwa promptly protested the fresh charge, arguing he had just been served the amended charge and couldn’t take his plea.
This led to a war of words between presiding judge, Justice Aziegbemhin, Ogbankwa with the judge cautioning Ogbankwa not to turn the court into a marketplace.
The judge eventually excused himself from the case, and the case file was returned to the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, who reassigned it to Justice Rachael Ogbevoen.