Migrant challenges police particulars

A Nigerian irregular migrant, charged with trying to leave Malta using a counterfeit passport, yesterday said in court his real identity was that shown on the passport and not the one mentioned in the charge sheet.

The man claimed to be 29-year-old Uzoma Isaac Njoku, as documented on the passport, and not 23-year-old Felix Obu Nadige as the police were saying.

Police Inspector Edel Mary Camilleri, prosecuting, ex-plained that forensic tests had determined that the passport was counterfeit. Besides, when asked for his details at the police headquarters, the accused said he was Felix Obu Nadige. When examined in the court room yesterday, the man insisted he was Uzoma Isaac Njoku and that was the identity entered in the case documents.

Mr Njoku pleaded not guilty to escaping from Lyster Barracks, in Hal Far, in November 2005 and of trying to escape to Catania by using a counterfeit passport on Tuesday.

Inspector Camilleri explained that the accused was apprehended at the sea terminal and found to be in possession of a ticket to Catania, a forged passport and an Italian foreigner's permit to stay, also suspected to be forged.

He was remanded in custody.

Magistrate Antonio Mizzi presided over the case.