Akwa Ibom State governor, Udom Emmanuel has vowed to crush every opposition against the emergence of his anointed successor and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Pastor Umo Eno ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election in 2023.
Multiple sources say Gov Emmanuel made the assertion before some close allies that he has succeeded in silencing Akan Okon, Akan Udofia and Senator Godswill Akpabio.
He was also quoted to have said that a Judge had been settled to convict Senator Bassey Albert on the alleged money laundering case with EFCC.
The governor however fingered Senator John Udoedehe as the only governorship opposition to the PDP candidate at the polls, describing the move as “lifeless”.
He said Udoedehe lacks the political prowess to garner a good number of votes that will spring surprise in the electoral system.
The source who was part of the meeting alleged that the Governor disclosed to them that he has concluded plans to send the sum of five Billion naira equivalent in dollars cash to Justice Agatha Okeke in order to swing judgment against Senator Bassey Albert.
It can be recalled that prior to the ruling on the case of certificate scandal of Pastor Umo Eno, Udom was alleged to have succeeded in bribing the presiding judge, Justice Agatha Okeke with the sum of five hundred million naira and bullet proof SUV to sway the case on technicalities in favour of Umo Eno.
Findings by our investigative team has it that as at two week, Governor Udom Emmanuel had dispatched a team led by Engr Uwem Okoko and one joe who purchase two billet proof SUV with the mandate to meet with the judge and present the offer from the state government to her.
One of the bullet proof SUV the source added was given to Umo Eno Governorship State campaign co-ordinator .It was discovered that the team made several attempts to see the female judge but was not possible as the woman had expressly declared that the case is bad one and was not within her power to help Pastor Umo Eno.
Our source also said that Justice Agatha Okeke rejected all offers from the state government until Thursday afternoon last week when she gave in because of pressure from other senior judges and powers that be, directing her to dismiss the case on technical grounds.
Justice Okeke was said to have received the sum of five hundred million naira in cash and bullet proof SUV from the Governor Udom Emmanuel through her husband who acted as her front .
“The Governor succeeded in using other judges to get across to Justice Agatha Okeke. The judge was instructed to dismiss the case on technicalities in favour of Pastor Umo Eno.
” If you observed , a few days before the judgment, government officials were moody until a day to the judgment when Engr Uwem Okoko-led bribe team succeeded in passing across the sum of five hundred million naira and a bulletproof SUV to the justice through her assigned proxy.
“After that they were confident that the case would be decided in their favour, reason you saw the governor’s aides engaging in frenzy before the judgment.” Our source said.
It can be recalled that Mr. Akan Okon had dragged the PDP governorship candidate to court over a forged certificate and voter’s card, demanding the court to declare him as the authentic winner of the PDP primaries in the state.
The case had remained in court for months and was decided on Friday 11 November, 2022 in favour of Udom for Umo Eno.
Meanwhile, a Socio -Political group in the State, Akwa Ibom Democrats for Justice has embarked on a move to petition Justice Okeke to the NJC. According to the President of the group, Chief Rufus Adiaumoh, It is no longer hidden that Justice Okeke is in the pockets of the Akwa Ibom State Governor and as such, Judgements are bought in his favour.
“As a people,we can’t sit down and watch this miscarriage of Justice going on in this State hence the decision to act now as Akwa Ibom is the only State we have” he said.