On Monday, Mr. Godswill Akpabio, the former Senator who represents Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District, caused a gridlock on the passage to the Akwa Ibom State Government House, as he marched with his supporters numbering over 50 along Wellington Bassey Way amidst the echoes of drums and trumpets, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV learnt that Akpabio was in the Akwa Ibom High Court situated in the state capital, Uyo, for the first time as petitioner to witness the commencement of hearing at the National Assembly Petitions Tribunal.
Following the conclusion of the day’s hearing at the Tribunal, Akpabio mobilized a brass band and marched with his APC members to the Globe Square on Wellington Bassey Way, which is usually used by Governor Udom Emmanuel to address the people of the state.
Amidst the jam, the former Governor danced to the tune of the drummers and assured his supporters that he had all it takes to reclaim power from the Senator – Elect, Chris Ekpenyong.
Vehicles in the convoy of the former Governor, and buses carrying his supporters, were used to block the road while the former Senator addressed the people.
Surprisingly, Akpabio was largely ignored by security operatives, meant to prevent a breach of traffic flow by workers and guests to the State Government House for over 20minutes.
Akpabio, it would be recalled, had few days ago petitioned the President of the Court of Appeal, praying for the relocation of the Tribunal from Uyo to Abuja.
The petition dated May 20, 2019, signed by Akpabio’s lawyer ,S. I. Ameh(SAN), Senator Akpabio alleged that there was intimidation of his witnesses by the respondents, adding that his supporters and witnesses were allegedly attacked and prevented from gaining access to the tribunal.
This petition is said to have contradicted the realities on ground, as there has not been any reported case of a misunderstanding between parties in the tribunal, let alone a fight being recorded.
Akpabio’s query of proximity between the tribunal location and the State Government House, also defied logic, as the tribunal was making use of the State High Court building, which previous tribunals had always used.
Monday’s carnival march on the road, few meters from Government House Gates, has been seen as an attempt to draw the irk of security agents and PDP supporters who would have possibly tried to oppose the noisy march and security breach by the APC members.
Earlier, at the commencement of hearing at the tribunal, two witnesses Usen who claimed to be a ward collation agent of APC and Ndifreke Idung, an APC chieftain, both from Ikot Ekpene local government area were invited by the Petitioner.
For the petitioner were S. I. Ameh, SAN, Adekunle Oyesanya, SAN, I O Peters, Patrick Umoh, Emmanuel Udosen, and Monday O. Obani.
The First Respondent was represented by Samuel Ikpo, Esq, A Asuquo, Edidiong Usungurua, and Aniedi Abotti.
The second respondent had in representation, Solomon Umoh, SAN, N. D. Gwaison, E. O. Oyadigi, N. M. Nyelong, and M. P. Ofo.
The 3rd – 5th Respondents had as their representatives, Robert Emukpoeruo.
At the last adjourned date last Friday, the parties had completed their submissions on the pre-trial conference and the proceedings on Monday commenced with the reading of the Pre-Hearing report.
The Tribunal consequently cautioned counsel to cooperate with them as they do not have the capacity to extend the period of the tribunal, even if all counsel agreed that it should be extended.
Following the conclusion of the day’s hearing at the Tribunal, Akpabio mobilized a brass band and marched with his APC members to the Globe Square on Wellington Bassey Way, which is usually used by Governor Udom Emmanuel to address the people of the state.
Amidst the jam, the former Governor danced to the tune of the drummers and assured his supporters that he had all it takes to reclaim power from the Senator – Elect, Chris Ekpenyong.
Vehicles in the convoy of the former Governor, and buses carrying his supporters, were used to block the road while the former Senator addressed the people.
Surprisingly, Akpabio was largely ignored by security operatives, meant to prevent a breach of traffic flow by workers and guests to the State Government House for over 20minutes.
Akpabio, it would be recalled, had few days ago petitioned the President of the Court of Appeal, praying for the relocation of the Tribunal from Uyo to Abuja.
The petition dated May 20, 2019, signed by Akpabio’s lawyer ,S. I. Ameh(SAN), Senator Akpabio alleged that there was intimidation of his witnesses by the respondents, adding that his supporters and witnesses were allegedly attacked and prevented from gaining access to the tribunal.
This petition is said to have contradicted the realities on ground, as there has not been any reported case of a misunderstanding between parties in the tribunal, let alone a fight being recorded.
Akpabio’s query of proximity between the tribunal location and the State Government House, also defied logic, as the tribunal was making use of the State High Court building, which previous tribunals had always used.
Monday’s carnival march on the road, few meters from Government House Gates, has been seen as an attempt to draw the irk of security agents and PDP supporters who would have possibly tried to oppose the noisy march and security breach by the APC members.
Earlier, at the commencement of hearing at the tribunal, two witnesses Usen who claimed to be a ward collation agent of APC and Ndifreke Idung, an APC chieftain, both from Ikot Ekpene local government area were invited by the Petitioner.
For the petitioner were S. I. Ameh, SAN, Adekunle Oyesanya, SAN, I O Peters, Patrick Umoh, Emmanuel Udosen, and Monday O. Obani.
The First Respondent was represented by Samuel Ikpo, Esq, A Asuquo, Edidiong Usungurua, and Aniedi Abotti.
The second respondent had in representation, Solomon Umoh, SAN, N. D. Gwaison, E. O. Oyadigi, N. M. Nyelong, and M. P. Ofo.
The 3rd – 5th Respondents had as their representatives, Robert Emukpoeruo.
At the last adjourned date last Friday, the parties had completed their submissions on the pre-trial conference and the proceedings on Monday commenced with the reading of the Pre-Hearing report.
The Tribunal consequently cautioned counsel to cooperate with them as they do not have the capacity to extend the period of the tribunal, even if all counsel agreed that it should be extended.
