Scandal As TAPL Claims Billions Set Aside To Influence Appeal Court Verdict

Scandal As TAPL Claims Billions Set Aside To Influence Appeal Court Verdict

Delta State  Governor sheriff Oborevwori has been accused of diverting N6 billion from the Delta State government coffers to bribe the judges, influence and secure a verdict challenging his victory in the March 18 governorship election in the state.

The allegation, made by the Transparency and Accountability In Political Litigations (TAPL), claim that Oborevwori diverted N6 billion from the Delta State Government coffers to secure favorable verdicts by the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The allegation comes after the tribunal, led by Justice C.H. Ahuchaogu, dismissed the petition filed by former Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, who ran against Oborevwori on the All Progressives Congress (APC) platform, for being devoid of merit.

Omo-Agege and other contestants have appealed the tribunal’s decision to the Court of Appeal in Lagos. The court is expected to deliver its judgment before the end of November.

But speaking to journalists in Asaba, the Delta State capital, TAPL’s coordinator, Chief Kinsley Emeka, accused Governor Oborevwori of conveying additional funds in hard currencies from the Government House in Asaba to Lagos for the alleged purpose of influencing the appeal court’s decision.

“It is a very sad time in the history of our state that at a time when we are witnessing so much suffering and hardship, the government is spending our resources in buying court judgments and there are people bragging about it.

Government agents are boasting that nobody can challenge Governor Sheriff Oborevwori as he has Delta state funds under his control to frustrate and jail anybody challenging his move to remain in office against the will of majority of Deltans who’s votes were manipulated,” said Kingsley.

TAPL called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allegations of bribery.

The appeal court has November 30 deadline to deliver its judgment in three separate applications filed by Omo-Agege and the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Kenneth Gbagi and the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Kennedy Pela, challenging Oborevwori’s victory.