Bribery Allegation; Group Urges DSS to Investigate Delta Election Tribunal Judges
LAGOS SEPTEMBER 22ND (URHOBOTODAY)-Group under the aegis of Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) has appealed to Directorate of Security Service (DSS) to investigate the alleged attempt by members of Delta State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya to bribe the Election Tribunal judges so as influence the judgment of the state governorship election in favour of Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa
It would be recalled that an online newspaper, Sahara Reporters in its publication of 10th September, 2015 reported a desperate attempt by twenty-three (23) members of the Delta State House of Assembly under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to bribe a panel of Election Tribunal judges to influence the judgement in favour of Okowa..
Reacting to the allegations in the publication, Chairman of CSNAC, Olanrewaju Suraju described the accusation as another serious allegation and evidential case of corrupt practices at its peak and a calculated attempt to pervert the cause of justice capable of precipitating electoral violence.
He argued that where an election tribunal is compromised, the matters before it would no longer be decided on its merit thereby eroding the will of the people to elect leaders of their choice which will invariably contribute greatly in truncating this fragile democracy the country is currently grappling with.
“In the light of this, CSNAC is therefore by this petition demanding that a thorough investigation be launched into these allegations as reported to ascertain their veracity or otherwise. This investigation should be extensive to include a detailed collation of the phone call logs of Mr. Monday Igbuya, Mrs Pat Ajudua as well as the tribunal chairman to determine if there has been any form of communication among them which will go a long way in unraveling the circumstances surrounding these allegations.
“The two members of assembly are to be invited by your office to officially document their assertions as contained in the report. Where necessary, the publishers of saharareporters can be reached for recordings of interviews with the SDP and LP members of the Assembly on this allegation. By acceding to this demand, you would have gone a long way in contributing to the restoration of the judiciary to its status of “the last hope of the common man,” Suraju stated.