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An Abuja court on Wednesday, November 27, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo representing Bayelsa west senatorial zone for failing to honour summon.
        According to reports, The bench warrant was issued by a Lugbe grade 1 area court, against Ewhrudjakpo, after the senator did not appear for a pre-election suit filed against him by Benjamin Youdiowei, a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa. The senator was accused by Youdiowei of presenting a forged NYSC exemption certificate on his nomination form to INEC. The plaintiff claimed that the lawmaker was still in possession of the document which he continued to use as part of his credentials. During hearing on Wednesday, the counsel for the plaintiff expressed concerns that the defendant had consistently failed to honour the summons. However, Ijere, counsel to Ewhrudjakpo apologised for the absence of the defendant adding that his client traveled out of the court’s jurisdiction. He asked the court to grant the defendant one more date to enable him to appear. But counsel to the plaintiff, Seidu Jibrin, objected and prayed the court to issue a bench warrant to ensure Ewhrudjakpo appears before the court. The trial judge, Abubakar Sadiq, in delivering his ruling said the defendant was aware of the case but chose to stay away. “In the circumstance, I hereby issue a bench warrant against the defendant. “I also order that the matter should be referred to the Wuye Police Station for further investigation,’’ he said.