Gov polls in PDP controlled states: EFCC arrests INEC chiefs for taking N675m in bribes

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, has found over N675.1m in the bank accounts of different Independent National Electoral Commission officials in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Delta states.

EFCC

According to the anti-graft agency, the money was received and shared by the officials during the last governorship elections.

Our correspondents gathered that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the 2015 election in Rivers State, Mrs. Gesila Khan, and other officials of INEC are already in EFCC custody. Khan was quizzed by the Department of State Services in July last year but was never charged.

However, SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that Khan and four others were arrested on Thursday, by the zonal office of the EFCC in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The residences of all the suspects were subsequently searched and incriminating documents were said to have been recovered by the commission.

According to impeccable sources at the EFCC, Khan, who is now the REC in Cross River State, allegedly received N185.8m ahead of the March 28 and April 11, 2015 election.

A source at the EFCC, who did not want his name in print, said Khan had made confessional statements and was cooperating with the commission.

He alleged that Khan received money through a special bank account and the commission had received overwhelming evidence.

He said, “Khan was the REC in Rivers State in 2015 election before she was transferred to Cross River early this year. She was said to have received N185.8m. She has made confessional statements.”

The anti-graft agency also arrested one Edem Okon Essanga, who is a retired INEC official. Essanga was arrested alongside his alleged accomplice, Immaculata Asuquo, who is the Head, Voter Education, INEC, Akwa Ibom State.

Essanga was alleged to have received over N240m which he shared among INEC ad hoc workers during the last election.

“Essanga received N241.1m during the general election. He admitted receiving the money and confirmed sharing it with different ad hoc workers during the election. His accomplice Asuquo has also been arrested,” the source added.

The source also disclosed that the EFCC had arrested one Fidelia Omoile who was the INEC electoral officer in Isoko-South Local Government Area, Delta State.

Apart from tracing over N112m to her, the commission also recovered some sensitive electoral materials during a search of her apartments in Edo and Delta states.

“She received N112.4m during the 2015 general election. A search warrant was executed at her residences in Asaba and Benin. Sensitive materials used in the 2015 elections were recovered, including evidence of the suspicious bank transaction and land documents that will assist us in our investigations,” the source said.

The commission also arrested one Oluchi Obi Brown who was the INEC administrative secretary in Delta State. She allegedly received over N111m.

Further investigations by detectives revealed that Brown had about $75,000 in an account in the United States.

“Oluchi received N111.5m during the general election. Investigations showed that she operates a foreign account with the Bank of America. As of February this year, the account balance was $75,857, (N24, 274,240),” the source added.

The sum total of the money found in the bank accounts of the INEC officials is N675.1m.

When asked if the anti-graft agency had recovered any funds, the source said efforts were being made to recover the funds in Nigeria and abroad.

He said the commission was banking on using the confessional statements of the suspects to catch the ‘big fish.’

But the INEC has claimed ignorance of the development, saying it is not sure of the story.

The  Deputy Director of Publicity and Voters Education of the commission, Mr. Nick Danzang, told our correspondent that he was unable to either confirm or deny the story.

“I’m not in town, but I have made calls. Nobody seems to know what is happening,” he said.

All attempts to get the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umana, to react to the matter proved abortive as he turned down calls from our correspondent. He did not also respond to text message sent to his phone.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Ekerette Udo, who responded to the call, declined any comment on the issue.

But the state chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mr. Paul Ekpo, who responded to the call from our correspondent, said he was unaware of such development and he didn’t know either Efanga or Immaculata.

Reacting, the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Dr. Austin Tam-George, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the investigation or arrest of Gesila Khan had nothing to do with Governor Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State Government or the state Peoples Democratic Party.

Tam-George explained that security agencies, including the EFCC, appeared to be conducting politically-targeted arrests since the beginning of the current political dispensation.

“We believe there is now a universal consensus that the security agencies, including the EFCC, appear to be conducting politically-targeted arrests since the beginning of this political dispensation.

“Mrs. Khan has particularly been viciously castigated by the All Progressives Congress for her steadfastness and incorruptible stance during the general election in Rivers State in April 2015.

“The fact that the governorship election she supervised in Rivers was ultimately validated by the Supreme Court speaks of her integrity. The world will watch closely to see if Mrs. Khan is being persecuted for her lofty principles and belief in popular democracy in Nigeria.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the Delta State Governor, Charles Aniagwu, while responding, said the government agencies should do their work diligently.

“Let the INEC (and EFCC) find out where the person got the money from. We cannot begin to talk about what we do not know anything about. I do not know about the person. We are not involved. The person accused of having N100m in his or her account should be able to explain the source of the money. We do not need to bribe people to get votes. We do not buy a crowd. We have the crowd behind us already. It is those who do not have the crowd behind them that can buy people with money. We do not buy people with money. We do not engage in bribery and corruption. The governor is a grass roots person,” Aniagwu said.

However, the Ijaw Youth Council. Worldwide has demanded the immediate release of the arrested officials, insisting that they are innocent.

Eric Omare, the group’s spokesman, said in a statement that Khan, who is also an Ijaw, was a victim of witch-hunt.

He said. “Mrs. Khan, had gone to the office of the EFCC to honour an invitation and having met with the EFCC team, they demanded for a first class traditional ruler or holder of the national honour of Commander of the Niger (CON) to stand surety to bail her. However, when the surety was made available on Thursday, the 14th of April, 2016, the EFCC at Port Harcourt claimed that they no longer knew her whereabouts.”

“This is an illegal conduct and flagrant abuse of power by the EFCC in the guise of fighting corruption. While all well-meaning Nigerians and organisations, including the IYC have over the years supported efforts at stamping out corruption from Nigeria, we insist that such a fight must be done within the ambit of the law.”

Gov polls in PDP controlled states: EFCC arrests INEC chiefs for taking N675m in bribes

Court upholds A-Ibom, Abia govs’ elections

ABUJA—The Supreme Court, yesterday, upheld the outcome of the April 11, 2015, governorship elections that brought Governors Udom Emmanuel and Okezie Ikpeazu of Akwa Ibom and Abia states respectively to power.

Governor Udom Emmanuel

In the case of Governor Emmanuel, a seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, in a unanimous judgement, vacated the decision of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct fresh election in the state.

The apex court, in a lead judgment delivered by Justice Cintus Nweze around 9:40pm yesterday, said there was merit in the appeal lodged before it by both Governor Emmanuel and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The court, however, reserved its reasons for setting aside the judgement of the appellate court till February 15.

Justice Nweze said: “I have invested considerable Judicial time considering arguments on this appeal. It is my view that there is considerable merit in the appellants complaint against the appellate court.

“I find that the orders by the appellate court must not be and are hereby set aside.

‘’ In there place, I affirm INEC’s declaration of Udom Emmanuel as the governor of Akwa Ibom state, having won majority vote. Reasons for this judgment will be given on Monday, February 15.”

It will be recalled that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had on December 18, 2015, nullified the  outcome of the April 11 governorship election in Akwa Ibom State.

The appellate court equally vacated the judgement of the Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which had on October 21, ordered a re-run poll in 18 out of 31 Local Government Areas in the State.

In their unanimous judgment, a  five-man panel of Justices of the appellate court said  there was sufficient evidence that the election that produced Governor Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, was not conducted in substantial compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.

The court held that the Justice Sadiq Umar-led tribunal, failed to properly evaluate both oral and documentary evidence presented before it by the All Progressives Congress, APC, and its governorship candidate in the state, Mr. Umana Okon Umana.

Justice Adefunke Okojie, who delivered the lead verdict, stressed that the lower tribunal erred by not according probative value to a document that indicated that the election was characterised by “massive over-voting”.

She noted that exhibit -322 tendered before the tribunal, showed that the number of votes recorded at the end of the election, exceeded the total number of accredited voters.

Besides, it was the position of the appellate that the said exhibit, which was a report on number of voters that were captured by the Smart Card Reader Machines, indicated that there was an excess of 685,78 votes.

Justice Okojie said it was not enough for the tribunal to anchor its reason for nullifying election in only 18 LGAs on the fact that a total of 566, 436 voters in the affected areas were disenfranchised during the governorship poll.

She faulted the tribunal for holding that the petitioners failed to prove that allegation of electoral fraud and non-compliance was not substantial enough to warrant the outright cancellation of the governorship election.

In the case of Governor Ikpeazu of Abia State, seven-man panel of Justices of the apex court, headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, voided the verdict of the Owerri Division of the Court of Appeal which sacked Ikpeazu from office.

Justice Sulaiman Galadima who delivered the lead judgment, said there was merit in the appeal lodged by both Ikpeazu and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The Supreme Court upheld the verdict of the Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

“I have come to the conclusion that this appeal lacks merit, judgment of the court of appeal is hereby set-aside. No cost is to be awarded. Reasons to be given on  February 26”, Justice Galadima held.

Both Ikpeazu and the  PDP had gone before the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal Judgement that declared the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Dr. Alex Otti, as the valid winner of the April 11, 2015, governorship election in Abia State.

Counsel to appellants, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, urged the court to allow the appeal which was filed on January 18, 2016.

Court upholds A-Ibom, Abia govs’ elections

Over 14 killed, 100 injured, 520 houses razed as armed youths invade Akwa Ibom village

IKOT AKPAN UDO—WHY is the Akwa-Ibom State Government observably indifferent in bringing to book the armed youths, who in August 2008, invaded the peaceful Ikot-Akpan Udo community, Ukpum Ette clan, Ikot –Abasi Local Government Area of the state, killing 13 persons and razing over 500 houses despite the cries of the people for justice in the last eight years?

The lethargy of state government, which in November 2008, set up a Commission of Inquiry that did not submit its Report on the incident until 2014 because of sharp disagreements among the members, also emboldened the attackers, July 12, 2015, to storm the village again, and  abduct and murder 32-year-old Joel Sunday.

Only last Tuesday, more than a year after the submission of the Commission of Inquiry report without a white paper from government, gunmen suspected to be from Amazaba community in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of the state struck yet again, razing over 20 houses and rendering hundreds of persons injured. As at yesterday, the village head, Ete-Idung Oscar Abel is still missing seven days after the attack. The invaders burnt about 15 motorcycles and a Jetta Saloon car during the surprise attack at about 2.00 am.

The Peace/Reconciliation and Boundary Delineation Committees, headed by Chief Effiong Eneyo and Surveyor Okokon Esien respectively, also set up by the state government did not make headway. On its part, the police since 2008 usually arrive at the scene of incident only after the attackers had perpetrated havoc and disappeared. The same scenario repeated itself, last Tuesday.

Investigations by Niger Delta Voice shows that the dispute between the two communities is essentially over land ownership. The boundary demarcation committee raised by the state government apparently found it difficult to do its work before of the claims and counter-claims and leaving the matter unresolved for several years has worsened the crisis. Some government officials have perceived interests in the matter and this has made it difficult to get an enduring solution to the crisis.

Our ordeal — Akpan Udo youth leader

Youth leader of Ikot Akpan Udo, Mr. Abasi-Okon Etukudoh Etukudoh, who spoke on behalf of the community, said with tears rolling down his cheeks that the invasion of his community by the Amazaba people was becoming a recurrent thing without counter attacks by his people. “One of the first houses attacked and burnt is that of the village head, Ete-Iding Oscar Abel. They burnt all his property, clothes, certificates and other valuable documents of the community and domestic animals as you can see.

“Although he escaped with only the loin cloth he tied on his waist to go to bed, his whereabouts are still unknown till this moment,” Etukudoh narrated. He lamented that the latest attack came after they managed to erect new structures to shelter their families in place of the houses razed in previous incidents by Amazaba youths.

Blames govt

The youth leader blamed the Akwa-Ibom state government for the various attacks and the refugee situation they have been subjected to, saying it has not done anything tangible to bring their assailants to book or to ameliorate their plight. “The delay or refusal by the government to act swiftly and bring the perpetrators of these injurious attacks to book is what has given them the impetus to keep coming around to attack us.

“If the Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up by the Akwa-Ibom State government in 2008 had done a thorough job, the culprits arrested and made to face the wrath of the law, the people would not have continued to take the laws into their hands,” he said. He further said: “Aside from the Commission of Inquiry, government had in 2012, set up a Peace and Reconciliatory Committee to reconcile us only for the committee to compromise its assignment and government was also afraid to query those members.”

Also speaking, a widow, Mrs. Obot Titus, who attackers also burnt her house, lamented that since her husband’s demise a few years ago, she had to shoulder the responsibility of the family alone, including erecting the burnt structure. She wondered where she would raise funds again to provide shelter for her children, especially as they burnt her motor cycle, used to provide income for the family.

Our case, by Amazaba elder

A leader of Amazaba community, who gave his name simply as Elder Francis, also blamed the Akwa-Ibom State government for the crisis, adding that if government had demarcated the boundary between Amazaba and Ikot-Akpan Udo, the problem would not have escalated. He also accused government of failing to check alleged trespassing and erroneous claims of Ikot Akpan Udo of being the owners of the land occupied by the Amazaba people.

“What government still needs to do is to demarcate the boundary between us so that Ikot Akpan Udo will not continue to claim that they own everywhere. “We are the original owners of the land having migrated from Andoni to occupy where we are now up to Ukpum Ete since in the 13th century.  This was before the people of Ikot-Ikot Akpan Udo came but because we are mostly fishermen, we do not care much about land, they kept trespassing into our land and making claims of them,” he said.

Way out

Continuing: Elder Francis said: “That is why we are revolting and we will continue to do it until government takes appropriate action, not by using military force but by demarcating our boundaries. “Once that is done, there will be peace, but if government does any mistake of bringing soldiers to come and confront us, government would be wasting its time and resources because our people will capture the soldiers and make mincemeat of them.”

Ikot Akpan Udo community, which maintained its ownership of the land, however, said some officials of the state government were forcing it to accept a politically induced peace. The community said it would not accept a contrived deal for Amazaba Andonis who slaughtered over 14 of her citizens and burnt their homestead.The people demanded that government should relocate Amazaba Andonis from Ikot Akpan Udo mainland to Otunene and Ememen, which lie opposite their kith and kin at Emereoke islands.

The community said that any boundary delineation between Ikot Abasi and Eastern Obolo local government areas not based on the Akpan Udo River, which rises at Ikot Ekpang in Mkpat Enin local government area of the state and empties into the Atlantic Ocean would never be acceptable to the people.

Govt meets community leaders on Monday

Efforts by Niger Delta Voice to get the state government to react to the allegation of nonchalance against it by both communities were not successful, but it proposed a meeting with the elders and chieftains of the two towns, last Friday, January 15, which was later shifted to Monday, January 18. At the weekend when our reporter visited Ikot Akpan Udo, there was a  heavy security presence at all the police divisions from Ikot-Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Eket, Esit Eket, Onna and Ibeno areas.

We’ve taken charge — Police

The squad leader from the Ikot-Abasi Police Division, ASP Omini Mathias, who spoke to NDV, said they alerted the police at about 2.00 am, last Tuesday, and they responded, but before they could get to Ikot-Akpan Udo, the hoodlums had completed their heinous acts and disappeared. He said the police and other security outfits were currently on top of the matter to bring the perpetrators to book and possibly end the age-long skirmish.

Akwa-Ibom State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Delia Nwawe, corroborated ASP Mathias, saying, “the Nigeria Police is for safety of lives and property of citizens. We give priority to these obligations, which is why the Nigeria Police, Akwa-Ibom State Command, under CP Murtala Mani, has deployed SAS, Anti-Robbery Squad and as a matter of fact Police Mobile Force, PMF, to that community. “If you go back to Ikot Akpan Udo now, you will see that normalcy has returned there; people are going about with their lawful and legitimate businesses.

According to the PPRO, the command has reached out to the Akwa-Ibom State government on the need for the two warring communities to come together and dialogue in order for them to have peace. “Peace is of utmost importance for us if we must make reasonable progress.  Interestingly, nobody has died in the crisis, which is why it is possible for us to tell the people to sheath the sword, come together, have dialogue and live together. And tomorrow, we are going to have a meeting with the two warring communities for possible dialogue between them,” she assured.

On the arrests so far made by the police in connection with the latest invasion, she said: “For now, I will not be able to tell you the number of arrests that have been made, but all I can say is that we have taken charge. We want these two warring communities to go back and live as a family because they have actually been living as a family. Right now, we have taking charge of that particular environment and I like to state clearly that people must learn to live together.”

Over 14 killed, 100 injured, 520 houses razed as armed youths invade Akwa Ibom village

Doctors threaten strike over 15 months unpaid salaries

Doctors in the employ of the Akwa Ibom State Government have threatened to down tools following the non-payment of over 15 months of their salaries.

The State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) broke the news in a communique issued at the weekend after the general meeting of the association held in Uyo, the state capital.

The resolution signed by state Chairman of NMA, Dr Augustine Umoh and Secretary, Dr. Aniekan Peter, said the decision to embark on the strike followed restiveness among members in the state government hospitals as a result of their unpaid emoluments.

The state NMA complained bitterly that, the State Government had employed and posted 61 Medical Officers to various hospitals across the state, but 15 months after the engagement their salaries are yet to be paid.

Similarly, the association fumed that 48 medical doctors equally employed by the state government as House Officers for internship in three hospitals about six months ago have also not been paid.

The NMA urged well-meaning indigenes of the state and the general public to help intervene and resolve the impasse amicably now, rather than waiting to blame the doctors when they are on strike.

MORE TO FOLLOW

Doctors threaten strike over 15 months unpaid salaries

Police parade teenager over alleged murder of mother

UYO—An 18-year-old boy, Endurance Akpan,  who allegedly killed his mother, Mrs. Lovina Akpan,  in  Idio Nung Iba village, in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of  Akwa Ibom was one of those paraded in connection with murder  by the State Command of the Nigeria Police Force in Uyo yesterday.

Police Inspector General, Solomon Arase

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP  Cordelia Nwawe,  Endurance reportedly killed his mother on arrival in his village from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he lives with his father.

She added that upon arrival, Endurance ,who is the last child of the eight children, headed straight to his mother room and tricked the woman out , “ he told her that he had something important to discuss with her. As they got to the room where Endurance had tricked her into, he (Endurance) tied his mother’s hands to her neck with a wrapper and strangulated her to death.

“After she died, he pulled her out of the room and took her close to a pit toilet within the compound and dumped  her there and thereafter left for Port Harcourt, where he was arrested.”

Also paraded was a pastor of God’s Power City, Gideon Idio, who allegedly killed  a female church member, Joanna Okon.

The pastor who resides  at 14 Fine Face Street, Off Enen Afaha, Uyo, was said to had called the deceased ,his  church member, Joanna Okon, to come over to his office.

The state Police spokesperson  said  on arrival that there was  a scuffle between them, the cause they could not ascertain, she added  that the issue degenerated to a point that the suspect attacked the deceased and she collapsed and died inside his office.

“The so-called pastor locked the deceased inside his office and used the deceased phone to call her close relation claiming to be a tricycle driver who picked up the girl from Udotung Ubo Street en route Itam where she slumped inside the tricycle and is being taken to an undisclosed hospital.

“As if that was not enough the suspect later at about 7p.m. informed the relations of the girl that he saw the corpse of the deceased at IBB Road, Uyo and has removed the corpse to his office, after which the suspect and relations of the deceased conveyed the corpse to a mortuary at Ibiono Ibom.” she said

Police parade teenager over alleged murder of mother

BREAKING: A’Court dismisses Udom Emmanuel’s ‎appeal, voids poll in ‎18 LGAs

A five-man panel of the Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed the appeal filed by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, challenging the October 21, 2015 judgment of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal which nullified his election in 18 out of the 31 Local Government Areas in the state.

Still being awaited is the judgment on the appeal by the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Mr. Okon Umana, asking for an order nullifying the election conducted on April 11, 2015 in the entire 31 local government areas.

Earlier the appeal court had dismissed an interlocutory appeal by Emmanuel challenging the competence of Umana and the APC to file petition challenging the outcome of the April 11 poll at the tribunal.

BREAKING: A’Court dismisses Udom Emmanuel’s ‎appeal, voids poll in ‎18 LGAs

Breaking News: A-Court affirms Akpabio’s election

ABUJA -‎ The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, today, affirmed that the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio, was validly elected to represent Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District in the State.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

In their judgment this afternoon, a three-man panel of Justices of the appellate court led by Justice Mashood Oredola, dismissed appeal that was lodged against ‎Akpabio by candidate of the All‎ ‎Progressives Congress, APC, for the Senatorial District, Chief Inibehe Okori.‎

The appellate court held that ‎the Akwa Ibom State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal acted properly when it dismissed the joint petition ‎that Okori and APC filed before it on April 18.

‎According to the court, the appellants failed to by preponderance of evidence, prove that Akpabio was not duly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contest the March 28 election.

According to the appellate court, the fact that Akpabio was in an initial list that was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by the PDP, erroneously identified as the Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North East, did not invalidate his election.

It held that Akpabio was duly nominated for the election in accordance with the provisions of section 65(2) of the 1999 constitution, as amended, and section138(1) of the Electoral Act.

‎

“The tribunal was right to hold that no one was mislead by the mistake. The 1st Respondent was qualified and duly nominated by the 3rd Respondent‎.

‎

“There is abundant evidence that the electorates, including the petitioners, were not in any way undecided as to the Senatorial District which the 1st respondent ‎was nominated to contest the election.‎

“The 1st Respondent have proved by credible evidence that he was duly sponsored by the 3rd Respondent and was eminently qualified to contest the election.

‎

“‎The electorates that trooped out to vote on March 28 must have their wishes and votes respected. The real essence of democratic practice is to afford them the opportunity to express their wish through the ballot, so as to have their say. Once they have spoken, their voice must not only be heard but must be protected as well as respected.

“In the overall, this appeal lacks merit and is hereby refused. The judgement of the tribunal delivered on October 14 is hereby affirmed. There shall be no order as to cost”, the appeal court ruled.

‎The appellants had at the lower tribunal, contended that as at March 28, 2015, Akpabio, was not qualified to contest for Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial Seat, having not been validly nominated or sponsored by any political party in line with the provisions of section 65(2)(b) of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

The APC candidate equally placed reliance on section 31(1) of the Electoral Act, which requires that political parties shall within 60 days to the election, submit a list of the candidates it would sponsor at the poll to INEC.‎

The petitioners urged the tribunal to determine whether the announcement/ declaration of the 1st respondent (Akpabio) as winner of the Senatorial District was not invalid by reason of corrupt practices and non-compliance with the Electoral Act, as amended.

‎

It was also the argument of the petitioners that PDP fielded no candidate for ‎Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District, even as they urged the tribunal to hold that all votes cast or allocated to the PDP were void.‎

More details soon.

Breaking News: A-Court affirms Akpabio’s election

Okori challenges Akpabio’s victory at Akwa Court

The All Progressives Congress senatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom Northwest Senatorial District, Mr. Inibehe Okori, has appealed the decision of the Akwa Ibom State National and State Houses of Assembly Election Petition Tribunal at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

Okori is challenging the tribunal’s verdict for upholding the March 28, 2015 senatorial election, which produced former Akwa Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio, as winner.

A statement by Okori’s media adviser, Mr. Daniel Etokiden, in Uyo on Sunday, said that it was regrettable that despite the alleged cases of over voting, the tribunal still ruled that Akpabio’s election was conducted in substantial compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

In a notice of appeal before the Court of Appeal, the appellant submitted, “That the learned justices of the trial tribunal erred in law when they found and held that the Independent National Electoral Commission had the power to on its own to normalise any anomaly in Akpabio’s nomination form by resorting to his personal particulars to determine his appropriate constituency.

“That the learned justices of the trial tribunal erred in law when they found and held the 1st ground of the petition is based on a technical error in the nomination documents of the 3rd respondent and does not affect the substance of Akpabio’s nomination to contest the election.

“That the learned justices of the trial tribunal exhibited double standards in resolving the issues placed by the parties before them and therefore erred in law.

“That the learned justices of the trial tribunal erred in law when they found and held that exhibit P.19 (card reader report) is inadmissible and proceeded to expunge same from the records.

“That the judgement, entered by the tribunal, is against the weight of evidence adduced at the trial which all amounted to a miscarriage of justice.”

Okori challenges Akpabio’s victory at Akwa Court

Buratai set up panel to investigate army involvement in Ekiti, Osun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom election

KADUNA – The Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Gen. Tukur Buratai, has constituted a five-man board of generals to investigate alleged partisanship of members of the Nigeria Army during the 2015 general election.

General Officer Commanding, GOC, 1 Division of the Nigeria Army, Maj. Gen. Adeniyi Oyebade, said he was made the Chairman of the board by Gen Buratai.

Other members of the board are Brig. Gen. Sunday Araoye, Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Kabuk, Brig. Gen. Baba Ibrahim and Col. Danladi Salihu who will serve as its secretary.

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, yesterday, Gen Oyebade said: “There are allegations made by the general public on the gubernatorial elections conducted in some states such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa Ibom among others.

“These allegations are weighty and Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Buratai is determined to get to the root of the matter. The COAS insists on maintaining a professionally responsive Nigerian Army determined on discharging its constitutional roles, and as such instituted this Board of Inquiry.

“The panel is to investigate these allegations and recommend appropriate measures to prevent a re-occurrence in the future. The military as a noble profession must remain apolitical in our democratic dispensation.

“Politics, we strongly believe should be left entirely to politicians. The role of the military must strictly be in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

“I must hasten to add, however, that despite these worrisome allegations, the military has to a large extent performed creditably as the foremost guardian of the nation’s democracy.”

“All petitions/memorandum are to be forwarded not later than Fri 20 Nov 2015. The panel shall commence its sitting from 9am – 5pm daily except Sundays starting from today Monday 9, 2015,”

Buratai set up panel to investigate army involvement in Ekiti, Osun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom election

A’Ibom polls, complete fraud, says Etiebet

A former Petroleum Minister, Mr. Don Etiebet, has said that the people of Akwa Ibom State will not summit to intimidation in choosing their leaders.

He stated that the 2015 general election in the state was a complete fraud in the electoral system as the Akwa Ibom people were disenfranchised.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo on Wednesday on the activities of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that sat in Abuja, Etiebet said that he and other elders in the state were determined to return democracy to Akwa Ibom State.

He said the All Progressives Congress in Akwa Ibom State had appealed for total cancellation of the governorship election, claiming that people were killed, maimed and ballots snatched in the few local government areas where elections held.

According to him, the scenario was overwhelming enough for the election to have been completely annulled, adding that the environment was not conducive for the people to participate in the April 11 governorship and the house of assembly elections in the state.

“We will always stand by the truth in this state. We have to work hard to ensure that this state belongs to all Akwa Ibom people, not to a group of hooligans, cult boys, or thugs.

“We are not going to submit to any intimidation by anybody. Who in this state has not benefitted from me that I should be afraid of?

“We want to return this state to democracy; we want to return this state to a situation where people will come out and cast their votes for the candidates of their choice. Right now, there is no such environment.”

A’Ibom polls, complete fraud, says Etiebet

Election Tribunal Rulings: PDP summons leadership meeting

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has summoned an emergency meeting of the party’s national caucus to discuss the current onslaught against the party and its candidates in the last general elections by the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led federal government.

Olisah Metuh

In a statement issued yesterday, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said the caucus, which would meet on October 29, would focus on the unrelenting schemes by the APC and its federal government to use some unpatriotic elements in the judiciary to advance their plot to take over states won by the PDP, particularly Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Taraba and Abia States.

The national caucus meeting is in furtherance of the decision of the leadership of the party to fully activate its structures in stiff resistance to the manipulations, coercions and threats of the APC-led government, and in line with the unbending determination by the party not to, in any way whatsoever, surrender any mandate freely given it to by the people at any level across the country, no matter the pressure.

The PDP had last weekend expressed its anger and disappointment over the outcome of the election tribunal judgment which annulled the governorship election result in Rivers State as well as ordered a re-run in 18 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, another state controlled by the party.

It urged all its members, supporters and lovers of democracy across the country to rise up and use all lawful means to resist anti-democratic forces, now using the judiciary and security agencies in their desperate scheme to subvert the will of the people and destroy the nation’s democracy.

It said though it seeks peace, it was not ready to accept the peace of a graveyard, neither was it willing to surrender the mandate freely given to it by the people in any part of the country, particularly in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and other states where it won in the last general election.

“Let it be known, and clearly too, that no matter the strong-arming, threats and manipulations by the APC government, the PDP is not willing to, and will never surrender the mandate freely given to us by the people in states where we won in the last general elections, neither are the people of those states willing to allow sectional invaders to exert influence on those to be in charge of their affairs.”

Election Tribunal Rulings: PDP summons leadership meeting

Rivers, Akwa-Ibom: PDP Raises Rallying Cry

….Says President Buhari Not Equipped To Lead In A Democracy

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) raises a rallying cry to all its members, supporters and lovers of democracy across the country to rise up and use all lawful means to resist anti-democratic forces, now using the judiciary and security agencies in their desperate scheme to subvert the will of the people and destroy the nation’s democracy.

Olisah Metuh

The party said though it seeks peace, it is not ready to accept the peace of a graveyard, neither is it willing to surrender the mandate freely given to it by the people in any part of the country, particularly in Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Abia, Taraba and other states where it won in the last general elections.

“Let it be known, and clearly too, that no matter the strong-arming, threats and manipulations by the APC government, the PDP is not willing to, and will never surrender the mandate freely given to us by the people in states where we won in the last general elections, neither are the people of those states willing to allow sectional invaders to exert influence on those to be in charge of their affairs” the party said in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh on Sunday.

The PDP said the desperation so far exhibited by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government in manipulating sensitive agencies of state like the judiciary and the security to further its bid to take over the rich states of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Delta is totally against the spirit of democracy and peace bestowed by the PDP in conceding defeat at the Presidential election, but instead, an affront to the people and recipe for crisis in the polity.

The party maintained that the prejudiced rulings by the Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states governorship elections tribunals, with their inherent contradictions, were a direct fallout of interferences from the APC and some elements within the office of the President of the Court of Appeal, adding that they should be held responsible should there be any break down of law and order in the system.

It also strongly cautioned against any interference in the Rivers and Akwa-Ibom cases at the appeal level as well as any further intrusion in the Abia, Taraba and Delta governorship election tribunals, which the APC is already boasting of controlling. The PDP said such would be a clear invitation to chaos in the land.

“In the last five months, after conceding defeat at the Presidential elections and other polls where we lost, Nigerians are witnesses to the fact that the PDP has remained calm and steadfast to its commitment to providing mature, decent and civil opposition with more interest on the peace, unity and corporate interest of our dear nation.

“However, the ruling party and the APC Federal Government in their dictatorial inclinations are much more interested in playing crude, selfish and sectional politics and trying to use manipulation of judicial processes to forcefully take over states where we genuinely won in the elections.

“Nigerians have noted APC’s definition of credible elections wherein governorship elections in Imo, Ogun, Plateau, Lagos and Yobe are all credible while those of Rivers, Akwa-Ibom, Delta, Taraba and Abia are rigged and must by all means be annulled.

“In the light of the foregoing therefore, leaders of the PDP across the country are now converging on a consensus not to surrender our national destiny and fate to the whims and caprices of the sectional interests of the Daura and Bourdillon Mafia.

“We want all to know that this party is able, willing and now ready to call up our members and supporters to use all means within the limits provided by the laws of the land to resist this evil plan to decimate the PDP and opposition. The peace we seek is not that of a graveyard, it is such as guaranteed by a well-recognized democratic system that treats all as equals before the law, irrespective of partisan and political affiliations.

“We hereby raise a rallying cry to all our members and supporters of PDP nationwide, all patriotic citizens and all lovers of democracy to join the PDP in this fight to save our nation from the hands of the lying, deceitful and false prophets, who are bent on parading themselves as cruel conquerors of our democracy.

“Furthermore, we request the international community to note that never in the history of our democracy has the nation witnessed such a divisive and anti-people government, whose actions have so polarized the polity, and undermined national unity and cohesion, a development that spells doom for our democracy, if not checked.

“We are therefore duty bound to counsel President Muhammadu Buhari to be cautious of tendencies that provide avenues for the destruction of the nation’s democracy, which he is a huge beneficiary of.

“In the same vein, we call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed to note the looming danger and save the nation’s democracy and the institution of the judiciary by immediately checking negative actions emanating from elements operating within the office of the President of the Court of Appeal.

“Finally, it has become necessary to remind all that this democracy was built on the principle of the rule of law and no political party, individual or group must be allowed to, by any means, appropriate or attempt to appropriate the will of the people at any time and under any guise whatsoever.”

Rivers, Akwa-Ibom: PDP Raises Rallying Cry

A’Ibom tribunal orders fresh gov election in 18 LGs

The Akwa Ibom State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct fresh governorship election in 18 out of the 31 local government areas of the state.

The Justice Sadiq Umar-led panel, in its judgment, held that over 500,000 registered voters were disenfrachised in the 18 local government areas including Uyo, the state capital, during the April 11 governorship election.

It held the petition filed by Okon Umana of the All Progressives Congress‎ challenging the declaration of Udom Emmanuel of the Peoples Democratic Party as the winner of the April 11, 2015.

A’Ibom tribunal orders fresh gov election in 18 LGs

EFCC never arrested me,says Akpabio

ABUJA – FORMER governor of Akwa Ibom State and senator representing Akwa Ibom North West, Godswill Akpabio,yesterday,explained that his visit last week to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was voluntary.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

Akpabio, who is representing his constituency, on the platform of the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party,PDP,however, said he was earlier invited by the commission,but said the invitation was a long time ago.

Speaking with newsmen, in Abuja, the Senate Minority Leader said: “I was invited by the EFCC but that was a long time ago, just before my accident and I said okay, that when I am fit, I Will go to see them to respond to the allegation that they said a young lawyer wrote against me.”

“So, when I was chanced on Friday, I went there on my own to listen to them, to go through the petitions and make my response and thereafter, I was allowed to go and I was admitted on bail.

“I think that is in line with their procedure, so it wasn’t a function of an arrest.

“It was a voluntary decision on my part as a law abiding citizen to go there. I heard that some youths were very disturbed in various parts of the Niger Delta.

“It wasn’t a problem. I feel as a law abiding citizen people write petitions against you. As a lawyer, we believe in let the other side be heard,”he added.

Senator Akpabio spoke further: “The problem we have is the way sometimes things are publicised. Allegation is not guilt and then of course the blotted figures that we see.

“If somebody has a petition against you for N20 billion, they will write N200 billion or N10 billion, they will then say trillion, it goes all over the world that so and so person is standing trial.

“In fact, it almost like judgment, the way the press reports it. Outside that, I think it is a civic responsibility and the right thing for me to do as a senator that if a petition is written against me, I should go and answer so that they will have an informed judgment but that does not mean that is admission of guilt no.”

He stressed: “I just want to urge all my people in Akwa Ibom State who probably were disturbed to know that such monies were not missing from the coffers of the state, that is the simple truth and if we had such additional sums as he mentioned, we would have done more for the state.

“It unarguably accepted worldwide even by the international community that my eight years tenure was a revolution in infrastructure, in human capital development in education.

” Many of you are not even aware that I even built a state university in 2010 and by the time I was leaving office in 2015, I graduated the first set of students.

” Many people are not aware of that, not to talk of the fly- overs all over Uyo, 37 bridges constructed. We are now looking at three brand new international hotels, Le Meridian Hotel, the Hilton Hotel, the Sheraton hotel, when all of them are put to use, they are economic enablers.

“Then we have the hospital, which is about five stories,the hospital, it will take you about three hours to go through the ground floor.”

EFCC never arrested me,says Akpabio

N108bn Fraud: Akpabio returns to EFCC for interrogation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  is lining up several functionaries of the Akwa Ibom State government for arrest after interrogating for the second day running yesterday, the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Godswill Akpabio, over alleged mismanagement of N108.1billion while in office.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

Also expected to be picked up for questioning by the anti-corruption agency are officials of banks allegedly used for illegal deals by Akpabio.

The former governor was first questioned on Friday but was released on an administrative bail at about 9pm.

He returned yesterday to the anti-graft agency for further questioning.

There were indications that some officials of Akwa Ibom State Government and a few banks might be quizzed too.

Akpabio arrived EFCC at about 11.45am yesterday and he was still there as at about 7 pm.

It was gathered that the ex-governor was accompanied by his lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), a publisher, Mr. Wole Arisekola and a friend, Mr. Segun Odubela.

Akpabio’s associates claimed he left EFCC at about 3.30pm.

A source in EFCC said: “Akpabio came back for the continuation of interaction with EFCC team on the allegations against him. We did not detain him on Friday in line with our respect for his fundamental rights.

“Having been served with a copy of the petition, he spent about four hours responding to the allegations in writing. He wrote his statement under caution.

“We asked him a few questions on some grey areas in his statement before he left. The investigation of the case is ongoing.”

Responding to a question, the EFCC top official said: “We are going to interrogate some officials of Akwa Ibom State Government and a few banks.

“Some of these officials were named in the petition by a lawyer-activist, Mr. Leo Ekpenyong.”

One of those who accompanied Akpabio to EFCC, Mr. Wole Arisekola, said that the ex-governor “only went there to write  a statement on Saturday.”

He said: “There was a petition against him and as a man of honour he went to EFCC to respond to the allegations. He was not arrested as being insinuated.

“We hope some former governors, who have petitions against them, will also be courageous enough to defend their actions in office.”

Ekpenyong had in his petition alleged that Akpabio mismanaged the state funds.

He said: “Between January –December 2014, it is on record that the trio of Godswill Akpabio and two others made illegal but substantial withdrawals of cash from a designated state government-owned account with Zenith Bank with account number: 1010375881 amounting to N22.1 billion.

“It is worthy of note that reasons for such ungodly cash withdrawals against financial regulations and due process laws range between sundry use and unjustifiable expenditures by Godswill Akpabio and his numerous surrogates and proxies.

“For example, a whopping N18 billion was withdrawn fraudulently from the state FAAC account with the United Bank for Africa in tranches of N10 million and above by Mr. Isobara in a surreptitious manner to conceal their dishonest intention.”

“The cumulative aggregate of these monies stolen by Godswill Akpabio from the coffers of government as pocket money is the annual budget of some states in Nigeria put together.”

N108bn Fraud: Akpabio returns to EFCC for interrogation

I only honoured EFCC invitation, i"ve nothing to hide - Akpabio

Following his Friday’s arrest and and eventual release by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  former Governor of Akwa Ibom State and Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, has returned to his Abuja residence, affirming that he has nothing to hide about his term in office as the governor of Akwa Ibom State.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

Akpabio who served two terms, as governor of the state between 2007 and 2015, was invited, yesterday, at about 5. 20pm to the Abuja Headquarters of the EFCC, over a petition dated June 22, 2015 and addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the EFCC.

The petitioner, Leo Ekpenyong alleged that Akpabio, fraudulently converted N108.1 billion belonging to Akwa Ibom State during his tenure as governor.

Akpabio, who honoured the anti-graft agency’s invitation, accompanied by a few aides and his lawyer, Ricky Tarfa (SAN), said via his Twitter handle, @SenAkpabio managed by his social media team, that he has arrived home some hours after.

The tweets read: “His Excellency, Senator Akpabio is back to the house. We want to reaffirm that he has nothing whatsoever to hide about his term in office in Akwa Ibom.”

Earlier, @SenAkpabio had tweeted: “Senator Akpabio was never arrested. He simply obliged an invitation to come and answer some questions at the EFCC headquarters.

“Senator Akpabio has nothing to hide that’s why he walked into EFCC himself this evening to answer questions about his tenure in Akwa Ibom.

“Those who are playing politics with the decision of Senator Akpabio to honour the EFCC invitation must be acting a known script.

“Senator Akpabio was called from EFCC to come for explanations and he drove there himself 50 minutes later. So, why all the news of arrest?”

I only honoured EFCC invitation, i"ve nothing to hide - Akpabio

Breaking News: Tribunal upholds Akpabio’s election

ABUJA—–‎The Akwa Ibom State National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, this afternoon, affirmed‎ the former governor of the state, Godswill Akpabio, as the winner of ‎Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial Seat‎.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Godswill Akpabio

In its judgement, the tribunal headed by Goddy Anunihu, dismissed the petition that was lodged against Akpabio’s election by the All‎ Progressives Congress, APC, and its candidate for the Senatorial District, Chief Inibehe Okori.

‎‎

The tribunal held that the petitioners failed to prove that the erstwhile governor was not validly nominated by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to contest the March 28, 2015, National Assembly election.

‎It held that the fact that Akpabio was in an initial list that was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, by the PDP, erroneously identified as the Senatorial candidate for Akwa Ibom North East, did not invalidate his election.

“There is abundant evidence that the electorates, including the petitioners, were not in any way deceived as to the Senatorial District which the 1st respondent ‎was nominated to contest the election.

“There is also uncontroverted evidence that the 1st petitioner bought the form of the 3rd Respondent (PDP) for the same Akwa Ibom North ‎West Senatorial District before he lost the ticket and decamped to the APC”.

Noting that INEC, had 30 days before the election took place, published names of all the candidates for the election and their Senatorial Districts, the tribunal, maintained that, “If the petitioners had any reason to believe that the 1st respondent was not qualified to contest the election, they would have taken up the matter immediately and do the needful”.

It ‎held that the election that produced Akpabio was done in substantial compliance to the Electoral Act, 2010.

“We hold that the petitioners are not therefore entitled to any of the reliefs they sought in this petition and it is therefore accordingly dismissed”.

The tribunal ordered the petitioners to pay a cost of N30, 000 to each of the three respondents in the matter.

Breaking News: Tribunal upholds Akpabio’s election

Stop Peddling Lies on A’Ibom Election Tribunal - APC berates PDP

• Opposition party: APC has confirmed its role in tribunal arm-twisting   

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has advised members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to have confidence in the nation’s judiciary and to stop peddling “lies” about the work of the Akwa Ibom State governorship election petition tribunal and the role of the security agencies in the state.

Lai Mohammed

Making the call monday at a press conference held in Lagos, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said the PDP was carrying out an orchestrated misinformation campaign about Akwa Ibom State governorship tribunal and the Directorate of State Security (DSS), said the opposition should deploy more energy to making their case at the tribunal rather than whipping up sentiment.

“The PDP has recently been engaged in what is undoubtedly an orchestrated campaign of misinformation on the proceedings at the Akwa Ibom State governorship tribunal as well as embarked on a calculated move to denigrate the security agencies, especially the DSS.

“It is not by accident that the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, has led a cacophony of other PDP voices that have been shouting themselves hoarse in an effort to pull the wool over the eyes of Nigerians and distort the real situation with regard to the governorship election petition by the APC governorship candidate, Mr. Umana Umana.

“Those who are following in the footsteps of Secondus to peddle lies include the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh; Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State PDP, Mr. Paul Ekpo, and the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Uwemedimo Nwoko.

“In what amounts to turning the truth on its head and crying wolf where there is none, the PDP has pointedly accused the APC of working with the DSS to upturn the state governorship election purportedly won by the PDP. That is the summary of all their mindless and meaningless accusations,” Mohammed said.

He explained that the DSS recently invited the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Austin Okojie, and some other officials working with him to help in their investigation into the discovery that the commission had destroyed and attempted to destroy evidence in election petitions before the state election petition tribunals by shredding ballot papers, immersing them in water, mixing them all up and stuffing them in jute bags which are then left out in the open at the mercy of the elements, an action contrary to the clear instruction of INEC manual for election officers 2015 (revised version) Section 2.8.5, which requires that after elections, the ballot papers should be preserved unit by unit in sealed envelopes.

“This evidence was available to the DSS, which then launched investigation into determining those responsible for the criminal acts. The state of electoral materials discovered in the course of the forensic examination ordered by the tribunal was so bad that we now know why INEC, in concert with the PDP, did everything to stop the forensic examination of the ballot papers.

However, the PDP has said the APC  had accepted  its culpability in a number of anti-democratic actions of government agencies lately, particularly the mindless invasion of the Akwa-Ibom State government house and sundry interference in the activities of the state election tribunal.

The party said by attempting to explain the unlawful actions of the DSS, the APC spokesman, only succeeded in confirming that his party and the federal government, under President Muhammadu Buhari were behind the invasion and the hounding of election officials to compromise the Akwa Ibom governorship election tribunal and  take over the state.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, in a statement yesterday said it had noted the weak attempt by the APC to defend the indefensible.

It said only “a desperate attempt at political shoplifting would drive the APC to engage in a miscarried effort to cover its culpability, by seeking to defend the condemnable actions of the DSS, a security and statutory apolitical organization, which has its internal system of public communication.

“By now Nigerians have become too familiar with the macabre dance by the APC spokesman, who has distinguished himself as a ‘renowned liar’; a shameless veteran in the ignoble art of deception.

“Our take is that the truth may be hidden for sometime, but it has a way of expressing itself to shame the guilty. We ask, what other reasons, other than a desperate cover up, would push a spokesman of a political party to stand in the gap to explain away the actions of the DSS when the security organization, has its own spokesperson and existing system of public communication?

“Is this not a confirmation of the fact that the DSS, under the direct command of an APC member, Alhaji Lawal Kaura, as Director General has since been politically annexed and working in cahoot with the leadership of the APC in its illegal operations in Akwa-Ibom and other PDP states?

“Perhaps, lacking in prowess to conjure believable fabrications to justify its dastardly actions, the DSS had to employ the services of APC master liar, who shamefully embark on excursions of falsehood.

“In fact, the contradictions in the claims in Alhaji Mohammed’s press conference betray it all. In trying to explain the invasion of the Akwa-Ibom state government house on behalf of the DSS, the APC chief propagandist controverted himself when he said, “we in the APC are not privy to the reasons for the DSS’ search of the Akwa Ibom Government House. However, we have no doubt that the security agency acted within its area of competence and authority’.

“We ask, if the DSS acted outside the knowledge of the APC as Lai Mohammed claimed, how would he validate his postulation that the agency acted within its area of competence and authority?

“Severally in the past, we have exposed the APC spokesman in terms of lying to deceive the nation. Recall that in May this year, Lai Mohammed nearly scuttled the transition programme when he issued a false statement alleging that the APC team was being frustrated, only for the head of the APC’s Transition Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Joda to announce that there was nothing of such.

“This is the same APC National Publicity Secretary, who in June 2014 issued a statement alleging that a plane carrying the then Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso to attend an APC rally in Ekiti was denied landing permission in Akure, only for Kwankwaso’s Director of Press Affairs, Baba Dantiye to announce that his boss was at another event in Kano and had no plans to travel to Ekiti State.

“Our response to  Mohammed is that at his age, he should learn to be truthful, honest and desist from fabricating lies that could be injurious to democracy and peaceful co-existence in the country, especially as no amount of falsehood, blackmail, propaganda, threats and procured testimonies will help his party in its illegal quest to takeover Akwa-Ibom and other PDP states.

“While we recall that this is the same method deployed in the past by these same characters to rob us of our victory in some South-west states, we stand by our position in insisting on the sanctity of the judicial processes and caution that we will not accept any move by any person whatsoever to rob us of our electoral victory in states where the people freely gave us their mandates.”

Stop Peddling Lies on A’Ibom Election Tribunal - APC berates PDP

No Firearms, Currency was recovered during Akwa Ibom Raid By DSS - Govt

Akwa Ibom State Government has again reiterated that no firearm or currency of any kind was recovered during the recent raid by some agents of the Directorate of State Services, DSS, on Government House, Uyo, as allegedly peddled by a section of the media.

Governor Udom Emmanuel

A release issued yesterday in Uyo by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, recalled that Governor Udom Emmanuel had variously cleared the air on the matter stressing that nothing was found or taken away from Government House, Uyo.

‘’Let it be stated for the umpteenth time that no such thing was found or taken from our Government House,” the Commissioner declared.

Umanah, who described such allegations by some alleged agents of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the misinformed public as unfounded and spurious, noted that it was unfortunate that people were still peddling false rumours to the effect that security agents discovered firearms and foreign currencies in Akwa Ibom State Government House.

The commissioner advised     members of the public to disregard concocted and self-serving stories by political jobbers whose stock in trade, he said, was spreading rumours to survive.

No Firearms, Currency was recovered during Akwa Ibom Raid By DSS - Govt

Female robbers nabbed in Uyo

TWO members of a female robbery gang, Ekpo Grace and Daniel Mfon, have been nabbed by operatives of the State Police Command in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

Female robbers

They were arrested while trying to escape in a tricycle, popularly referred to as Keke Marwa, after robbing a boutique located at Ekpo Obot Street, Uyo.

The duo according to reports, are the alleged leaders of the notorious female gang that has been terrorising Uyo and other parts of the State, causing chaos over the past few months. They were alleged to have been robbing shops, boutiques, supermarkets, restaurants and residents in broad daylight.

Eyewitnesses said they had stormed a boutique pretending to buy some expensive clothes, bags, wristwatches and other accessories. After they had gathered the items together, they sent the female sales attendant to go and get them some drinks from a nearby shop. When the girl stepped out, they called on their operational keke and were about to escape when the girl returned and saw them.

The attendant reportedly raised an alarm. Passersby and other tricycle operators chased them and both thieves and the trycycle driver were apprehended.

They were, however, taken to the State Police Command Headquarters at Ikot Akpan Abia, by policemen who came to the scene. On interrogation, the two suspects confessed to their crime.

Grace and Mfon reportedly claimed that apart from the robbery in which they were caught, they had been involved in all kinds of robbery in the state for quite some time.

Grace, who claimed to be the head of the gang, said:“When we enter any shop, we try to distract the salesperson or send him or her on an errand if we realize he or she is very young. That will make us run away with the goods without paying for it. ”

“We steal anything we see and can get hold of and we usually pack the most expensive items.”

“We also rob women inside Keke, we pick recharge cards, bags and anything that would fetch us quick money.”

Female robbers nabbed in Uyo