A group under the auspices of Integrity Alliance in Akwa Ibom said it has uncovered plans by aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the state, Mr Akan Okon, to escape arrest following fresh revelation that the aspirant used a fake WAEC confirmation letter to witch-hunt the party candidate in 2023 general election, Pastor Umo Eno.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its chairman, Barr Stephen Abia and made available to newsmen in Uyo, the group directed the police and other security agencies to beef up security around Akan Okon so that he would not bolt away in the middle of forgery case he had instituted against pastor Umo Eno at the Federal High court, Uyo.
The Trumpet gathered that the State Police Command through its Police Superintendent, Chris Endeley, of the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence (DCII), told a Federal High Court in Uyo that it investigated the letter paraded by Akan Okon, purportedly sent by WAEC to a group known as Association for Advancement of Democracy in Nigeria (AADN).
In his report, he quoted the West African Examinations Council, Ikeja Zonal Office as stating explicitly that it did not write the purported letter dated 8th April, 2022, which was addressed to “The President, Association for Advancement of Democracy in Nigeria (AADN).
The police investigator also presented as an exhibit, a letter signed by Dr Amos Dangut, a Deputy Registrar and Zonal Coordinator of the West African Examination Council, which confirmed that the certificate number SG699413 and examination number 15520230 rightfully reflect Pastor Umo Eno’s grades and personal details as presented at the time of the examination.
“We had expected Akan Okon’s lead counsel Okey Amaechi, SAN, to quickly take on the Police Investigation officer, but we learnt he told the court last Thursday, September 15, 2022, that he should be excused to take a leave immediately and attend a burial slated two days from the date of that proceedings.
“From the foregoing, it is evident that Akan Okon’s counsel was seeking a window through which his client could escape from the long arm of Justice.
“With the body language of Mr Akan Okon’s lead counsel indicating that the bad loser erstwhile governorship aspirant has hit his toes criminally against the law, Mr Akan might likely be tempted to run for safety outside the shores of Nigeria.”
The group chairman Barr Stephen Abia, appealed to the law enforcement agencies never to allow such escape to happen by abdicating their critical responsibilities in this matter.
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“Of course, allowing Mr Akan Okon to escape, as we strongly suspect he is contemplating, would have made the efforts of the police in diligently investigating Akan Okon’s wild allegations against Pastor Umo Eno, to be defeated.
“Security agents should be on red alert for this potential fugitive. By the evidence of the Police investigations and testimony of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, Mr Akan Okon is billed for a criminal offence of forgery and perjury. These are too weighty allegations to be negligent about,” he alleged.
He, therefore, called for the immediate arrest of Mr Akan Okon and all his accomplices for the offence of which the court must try them.
The statement reads in parts:
“Considering that the matter currently in court between Akan Okon and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Umo Eno can continue unhindered with or without the presence of Mr Akan Okon, as he had already finished his testimony, his next line of action will be to run away to avert arrest for his new offence just discovered.
He requested security agencies to restrict and track the prime suspect to face the consequences of his actions in line with the dictates of the law.
“Mr Akan Okon is in court as a bitter loser against the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Umo Eno who defeated him squarely at the primaries.
“The pains of the thorough failure made him resort to fabricating false allegations against Pastor Umo Eno, alleging that the candidate had forged educational qualifications.
He said the desperate ambition of the plaintiff further blinded him to commit forgery and perjury which he must be tried accordingly.
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