Imported User:
New York Judge has dismissed the 17-count criminal possession of forged instruments case filed in December 1994, against the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Jude Agbaso.
Judge David Sullivan of the Nassau County Court granted the dismissal following a plea request made by the prosecutor, the Nassau County Assistant District Attorney, Brian Lee and the defence counsel, Mrs Laura Chukwuma.
The judge, in an order dated Aug. 24, also vacated the arrest warrants issued against Agbaso, 53, in connection with the case.
Agbaso, then a resident of New York, was arrested on June 20, 1994 on a first-degree 17-count indictment for possession of forged 100 dollar bills, a felony.
An arrest warrant was later issued for him after he reportedly jumped bail in the case which also involved one Eugene Harding.
In granting the plea agreement by the prosecutor and the defence, Judge Sullivan granted Agbaso’s plea on a one-count of a non-criminal violation charge of disorderly conduct under section 240.20(2).
On Wednesday, Agbaso was represented by his counsel at Nassau County court who agreed to pay a 250 dollars fine for the disorderly conduct.
A copy of the court disposition obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), dated Aug. 24 said: ‘‘This order will certify that all 17-counts obtained with the aforesaid indictment were resolved through a plea to one-count of disorderly conduct under count one’’.
‘‘Accordingly, all 17 counts charging the defendant with criminal possession of a forged instrument in the First Degree under IND 90454, dated Dec. 30, 1994, are now dismissed in satisfaction of this plea and any and all bench warrants issued in connection with this matter have been vacated effectively immediately,’’ Judge Sullivan said.
Speaking to NAN, Chukwuma, who was in court with her client’s elder brother, Chief Martin Agbaso, said the judgment meant that the deputy governor was free to enter the U.S. at will.
‘‘Seventeen charges were filed in this case for criminal possession of forged instruments (forged currency).
‘‘Those 17 first degree felony counts have all been dropped and dismissed entirely by not just the judge, but also by the prosecutor.
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