LAGOS SEPTEMBER 22ND )URHOBOTODAY)-Mr Henry Ebireri, Chief Press Secretary to Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya has expressed support for the appeal by Civil Society Network against Corruption (CSNAC) on Directorate of State Security (DSS) to investigate the allegation of members of Delta State House of Assembly to bribe Judges of Delta State Electoral Tribunal to influence judgement in favour of Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.
Giving his support to the call in a statement made available to Urhobotoday an online medium, Ebireri stressed the need for media professionals to be thorough and be armed with correct facts and figures in the area of investigative journalism before going to to press.
According to him, “This is necessary in order to forestall denting of image of personalities with false reports which could create false impression in the minds of the public”.
He also urged the Directorate of State Service (DSS) to investigate the alleged attempt to bribe the Election Tribunal judges and identify those behind it.
The CPS commended the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) for their effort, just as he equally appeal to security agency to invite those behind the allegation to give useful information.
Ebireri who rebutted allegation that 23 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the Delta State House of Assembly contributed a sum of N5million each with which to compromise the panel of judges and receive a favorable judgment against opposition petitioners, described the allegation as wicked, baseless and reckless.
He equally said the allegation that Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Monday Igbuya approached Labour Party lawmaker to bring N5million to settle the panel of judges at the House of Assembly election tribunal to get justice as political fabrication aimed at undermining the speaker’s integrity.
“The Delta State House of Assembly Speaker is an honest and highly effective speaker. He has built a reputation anchored on integrity over the years. The speaker will not mortgage the country’s democracy,” Ebirere argued, just as he accused some members of the opposition of putting personal interest above those of the people and the state.
Ebireri who described the allegations as nonsense and figment of imagination of those who concocted it, appealed to office and money seeking politicians to temper ambition and greed with concern for public good and genuine welfare of the people.
He also appealed to journalists and politicians to protect Igbuya from undue harassment by self-seeking elements whose stock in trade is to hide under the banner of the media to bring down their imaginary or perceived opponents.