February 8, 2024
Former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Akwa Ibom State, Uwemedimo Nwoko (SAN) has faulted Senator Elisha Abbo’s claim that Justices of the Court of Appeal engaged in bribery.
Abbo, who was the senator representing Adamawa North senatorial district until he was sacked last October by the Court of Appeal, recently addressed a press conference where he accused justices of the court, including its president of engaging in bribery.
Nwoko, in a statement on Wednesday, challenged Abbo to present evidence as proof of his wild allegation against the hardworking judicial officers or face the legal consequences.
The lawyer said: “It is instructive to note at this stage that up till this moment, Senator Abbo has not produced any iota of evidence to substantiate his weighty allegations.
“We take very strong exceptions to the criminal blackmail deliberately fabricated and calculated to impugn on the integrity and reputation of our revered and hardworking Judges and Justices by characters like Senator Abbo.
“May I remind Senator Abbo that when he lost the case that removed him from the Senate, he openly accused the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON of being the architect of his misfortune.
“When he was confronted with the task to prove the allegation, he promptly went on his knees, and apologised profusely to Senator Akpabio and retracted the allegations.
“It is sad and most unfortunate that this Senator who shot into the limelight on account of his misconduct in a sex toy shop in Abuja would have the criminal courage and effrontery to malign, denigrate, and make such invidious imputations against our Justices and judiciary simply because he lost a case.
“I wish to state most categorically that it is totally unacceptable, morally reprehensible, and legally culpable for a person with Senator Abbo’s moral credentials and profound deficits in character content to embark on such character assassination against our Justices who have sacrificially built their good reputations over the years.
“This brand of nonsense and unprovoked attacks against our judicial officers and the Judiciary must stop. I challenge Senator Abbo to promptly produce verifiable evidence to substantiate his allegations or be ready to face the consequences in law.”
– agency report
