Akwa Ibom guber: YPP lawyer alleges threats to life, wants tribunal transferred to Abuja

Akwa Ibom guber: YPP lawyer alleges threats to life, wants tribunal transferred to Abuja

 Ahmed Raji, lead counsel representing Albert Bassey,
candidate of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom, has asked that
the governorship election petition tribunal be transferred to Abuja over
alleged threats to his life.

 

In a letter dated June 20 and addressed to the chairman of
the tribunal in Uyo, the state capital, Raji said he has written to the
president of the court of appeal, seeking to transfer the panel to the federal
capital territory (FCT) or another safe location.

 

In the alternative, the senior lawyer wants the tribunal
“disbanded”.

 

“This request of mine was compelled, by the unsavoury
life-threatening exposure we were subjected to, after/ the proceedings of 20th
June 2023,” Raji said.

 

 “This
life-threatening exposure was at the instance of Eno Umo, the current governor
of Akwa Ibom state…”

 

The senior advocate alleged that Daniel Akpan, a staff of
the University of Uyo, who testified as a witness, is also being threatened.

 

He said Akpan had initially declined to testify “on the
ground that his life was under threat by some unknown persons, who claimed he
ought not to have certified the academic records of the Eno Umo Bassey”.

 

 “The life threats
were so much, that he had to move his family from Uyo,” the lawyer said.

 

“During the proceeding of 20th June 2023, the said witness —
Daniel Akpan, was still resisted from testifying, by unknown men and supporters
of Eno Umo Bassey.

 

“As a proactive measure, the petitioners had to apply for
additional reinforcement and security personnel, to secure the perimeters, both
for the witness, himself and his team of lawyers.

 

“While the said witness was in the witness box, he
complained to the honourable tribunal, that he had been receiving several calls
from unknown persons, warning him not to give evidence at the tribunal.

 

 “He equally
complained to the honourable tribunal that these persons threatened to kill
him; and for this, he solicited protection from the court.

 

“Unfortunately, the tribunal rebuffed this complaint,
perhaps because he was perceived to be a helpless common man.”

 

Raji said after the court adjourned proceedings, some
“unknown men, military men and officers of the police force, in different
squads, blocked my team and I, from going home”.

 

“We were all ordered to alight from our vehicles, wielding
heavy armament, weapons, shooting into the air bullets and tear gas,” he said.

 

 “It is very clear to
us that our lives are no longer safe in Akwa Ibom state. This has completely
eroded the possibility of having a just, safe and fair trial in Uyo.

 

“The aggregation of events in this regard, which climaxed
during and after the proceedings of 20th June 2023, has irresistibly prompted
me to write this letter, not only for the safety of our lawyers but for
justice, equity and fairness, which can no longer be realised in Uyo.

 

 “Against the above
backdrop, I respectfully urge your lordship, to tarry a while and await further
directives from the president of the court of appeal, since we have lodged a
life-threatening complaint to his lordship.

 

“At this moment, none of the lawyers representing the
petitioners is in a good frame of mind to continue further proceedings, if this
honourable tribunal still convenes in Uyo.”

Source: Akwa Ibom guber: YPP lawyer alleges threats to life, wants tribunal transferred to Abuja

 - NigerianEye
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