Tag Archives: umana

Investigate bribery allegation against Amaechi, Umana – CSNAC begs ICPC.

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Following Justice Inyang Okoro’s bribery allegation against the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and the then All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Akwa Ibom state, Umana Umana, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, has urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC, to probe the allegation.

Justice Okoro, one of the judges recently arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS,  had accused Amaechi and Umana of approaching him with the aim of influencing court decisions on election cases in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states.

CSNAC, in a petition by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, said, “If Justice Okoro’s allegation is anything to go by, then he definitely has a case to answer with the Commission.

“By virtue of Section 23 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act of 2000, Public Officers are duty bound to report bribery transactions.

“By virtue of the above stated section [Section 23], Justice Okoro had a duty to report the attempt to bribe him by Messrs. Amaechi and Umana. His failure to do same and only resorting to use the information as a first line of defense against the raid by the State Security Service will not exonerate him from the offense committed under the Act.

“In view of this, CSNAC is therefore by this petition calling on the Commission to commence an immediate thorough investigation into the allegations made by Justice Okoro and also ensure that prosecution and proper punishment is meted out in line with the established laws, rules, and regulations.”

Why PDP Should Not Celebrate Akwa Ibom Tribunal Judgment- Umana

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The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Akwa Ibom State, Umana Okon Umana, has said there is nothing for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state to celebrate over the verdict of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that upheld elections in 13 out of 31 local government areas in the state.

Umana who was embraced by intimidating crowd at the Ibom International Airport on arrival to the state from Abuja weekend after the judgment of the election petition tribunal last Wednesday said it was not yet over for the PDP.

Reports gathered that the convoy and crowd that escorted Umana from the airport caused  a scare on the road as people cued along both side of the major roads in the city to wave  and welcome Umana.

Addressing thousands of APC faithful that gathered at the Nsima Ekere open ground along Edet Akpan Avuene, the APC governorship candidate said he was excited by the matured reception accorded him by the crowd.

“When I arrive the airport, I was confused and somehow someone told me that the good people of Akwa Ibom got to know that I will be coming on Saturday.  This response and expression that we witnessed is all spontaneous; it was not planned, not funded by me or the party.

“This has given me an indication as to the feelings of the people of Akwa Ibom State. I want to thank them for this level of solidarity and to assure them that we will not relent; we will pursue this struggle to free Akwa Ibom State,” he stressed.

Credit: Thisday

Tribunal Reserves Judgement In Akwa Ibom Governorship Petition

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The Akwa Ibom Governorship Election Tribunal has reserved judgment in the petition filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governorship candidate, Mr. Umana Umana, challenging the victory of Governor Emmanuel Udom at the April 11 election in the state.

The tribunal resumed hearing after a 2-week recess to adopt the final arguments of the parties.

The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Sadiq Umar, reserved ruling following the conclusion of hearing on the petition.

Lawyer to the petitioners, Mr. Wole Olanipekun (SAN), asked the tribunal to nullify the election on the ground that the petitioner had proved beyond reasonable doubt that the governorship election was not properly conducted.

But the Governor, through his lawyer, Paul Osoro, argued that the petitioner failed to establish his fact. He said that the petitioner gave evidence in less than 50 polling units out of over 2,000 polling units in the state.

Meanwhile, Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oyeachi Ikpeazu (SAN), claimed that the electoral body has complied with all court orders, which should enable the tribunal do justice to the case.

No date was fixed by the tribunal for the judgment. However, following the conclusion of their arguments, both parties would know where the pendulum swings, not later than October 29.

Source – Channels TV