Posted by By ADESINA AIYEKOTI on
The protracted legal tussle over the Anambra State governorship election, took a new turn yesterday as a human rights group, International Association of Criminal Justice Practitioners called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to set up a panel to investigate Governor Peter Obi and one of his counsel over allegation of bribing a litigant.
The protracted legal tussle over the Anambra State governorship election, took a new turn yesterday as a human rights group, International Association of Criminal Justice Practitioners called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to set up a panel to investigate Governor Peter Obi and one of his counsel over allegation of bribing a litigant.
The litigant, Ifeanyi Okonkwo had also approached the Supreme Court to set aside its June 14 judgment which sacked Andy Uba and restored Obi as the governor of Anambra State.
The aggrieved organization expressed shock in a four page statement signed by its Executive Director, Chukwuma Onyezubeh that a state governor could be colluding with his attorney to offer a bribe of N10 million to one Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, for the purpose of withdrawing a matter in the appellate court, challenging the court's decision in the matter involving Okonkwo, Obi and Chief Andy Uba, a former governor of the state.
Pleading with the Olisa Agbakoba-led executives of the NBA, the group said: 'We hereby request that you conduct a full investigation into this matter to determine the culpability or otherwise of the lawyer allegedly involved in this unwholesome allegation and appropriate sanction meted to him if found guilty of the allegation.
'We are encouraged in this petition by your proven record of commitment to restoring the dignity of the profession of law, justice and equity to all."
Describing the move as 'fraud against the administration of Justice and the practice of the legal profession the group further pleaded that the matter should not be swept under the carpet and 'the country is expectant of the return of the golden era of a vibrant and practice Bar."
Ifeanyi Okonkwo had in suit No 123/2007 pleaded with the Supreme Court dated June 14, 2007, under the interest jurisdiction of the court.