Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Ikechi Agbaso is a fugitve from US Justice.

An elombah.com investigative reporter has discovered that the current Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Ikechi Agbaso is a fugitve from US Justice. Background checks run with US Agencies including the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and The US Marshals Service confirmed to Elombah.com that there were charges against Jude Ikechi Agbaso and that arrest warrants exist against Agbaso in New York for fraud and fraud related activities.

Elombah.com discovered the following on Jude Agbaso:

Social Security Number: (SSN) 108-76-1794

112 Front Street, Freeport New York, 11520 6146

Date of Birth: January 23 1958

Further investigations at the Felony Screening Section of the Nassau County revealed that the prosecution of the charges against Agbaso was handled by Nassau County, New York District, Attorney's Office.

Our interview with the Prosecutor generated her confirming to us that the subject was arrested by Nassau County Police Department and was charged with 17 count charge of criminal possession of forged instrument to the Nassau County Court.

He was granted Bail and afterwards did not show up for court proceedings again. Agnaso jumped Bail and fled to Nigeria, hence the Judge issued a Bench Warrant with no bail provision for the subjects arrest and incarceration on December 30 1994.

The Prosecutor further said that though they will not be able to extradite the subject from Nigeria, but affirmed that if there is any way he could be brought back to the US, then they could get him re-arrested and brought to New York for prosecution.

Attached is a copy of the Bench Warrant the obtained from the Nassau County Police Department.

Elombah.com investigations revealed that Mr Agbaso truly has a case to answer in New York and the Court in the light of this had to issue a Bench Warrant for his re-arrest and incarceration.

The Warrant is still valid till date, Elombah.com was told

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha contested the Governorship seat with Jude Agbaso and won under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

Jude Ikechi Agbaso, is the younger brother of Chief Martin Agbaso. The elder Agbaso was the APGA governorship candidate in 2007 and many had expected him to still fly the party's flag in 2011.

Agbaso claimed that he won the 2007 governorship election in Imo State but was denied the chance to govern. Though the judiciary affirmed that he lost, some had expected him to use the 2011 election to prove that he actually won four years ago.

On Wednesday, April 6, 2011, a Federal High Court holden in Owerri gave an order granting leave to one George Egu to serve Jude Agbaso with an Originating Motion on Notice in which the plaintiff claims that having regards to the alleged criminal background of Jude Agbaso, he is constitutionally and legally incompetent to run as the deputy governorship candidate in the April 2011 governorship election in Imo State. Joined in the suit are Chief Rochas Okorocha himself, APGA and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The action was based on the premise that Agbaso is wanted in the US for forgery and jumping bail on December 30, 1994.

According to the originating summons filed by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), the plaintiff is seeking a declaration that having regard to the peculiar circumstances of the case, INEC is precluded from recognizing and permitting the fielding of both Okorocha and Agbaso as governorship and deputy governorship candidates.

The case was adjourned for hearing to April 18, 2011.

Mike Ozekhome Addressing newsmen after the court-session said Agbaso is not a fit and proper person to be a running mate to a governorship candidate because of the alleged crime.

He also contended that since both Okorocha and Agbaso are running on a common ticket, then both are ineligible if Agbaso is found guilty.

Expectedly, APGA (Imo State) has dismissed the issue as the handiwork of opponents of Chief Okorocha.

Elombah.com