A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abia state, Barr.
Friday Nwosu, has vowed not to succumb to intimidation by those he accused
of threatening to kill him over the tax forgery suit he filed against Gov.
Okezie Ikpeazu.
It will be recalled that Nwosu who ran against Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu at the
December 8 2014, PDP governorship primaries, filed a suit against the
governor accusing him of presenting a forged tax clearance certificate.
In an interview with Pointblanknews.com in Abuja, Nwosu who stated this
while reacting to a statement credited to the former governor of Abia
state, Senator Theodore Orji that he (Nwosu) will fail in the tax forgery
suit he instituted against Ikpeazu, insisted that he will remain resolute
and undaunted, in spite of official and clannish attempts to appease him
for an out-of-court settlement of the suit.
“I have resisted several attacks and intimidations organized against me in
the course of this litigation, I would never surrender, but will pursue
the matter to its logical conclusion. I will not withdraw the suit. Let
justice be served. I want the court to vindicate or vilify me. I have
received and still receive several threats to kill from unknown persons. I
don’t know why my opponents are afraid, let them allow the serve justice
on the matter.”
Sen. Theodore Orji, had during a civic reception at Ugba Primary School,
Bende road, Umuahia, by the people of Osisioma Ngwa, Isiala North and
Isiala Ngwa South council areas, known as ‘Umunneato’ assured the people
of the state that the tax forgery suit instituted against Gov. Ikpeazu was
bound to fail.
The former governor reportedly told the gathering who came to thank him
for installing an Ngwa man as governor, that Nwosu will fail as others
before him had done. Orji said, “I heard that some people are still in
court, being engineered by others. They will fail. For sure, they will
fail,” he said, asking, “If they did not succeed during the election
tribunal, is it this one they are going to succeed?”
Pointblanknews.com sources alleged that the former governor conspired with
the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state to impose
Ikpeazu as the governorship candidate of the party during the primaries
for the 2015 governorship race against more popular aspirants.
According to the sources, “Barr. Friday Nwosu, who is an Abuja-based legal
practitioner, was a major supporter of Theodore Orji’s administration,
like other governorship aspirants, such as Dr. Uche Ogah, an oil-merchant,
including others like former Deputy governor, Acho Nwakanma, ex- Labour
Minister Emeka Wogu, former Consul general, Nigerian High Commission in
South Africa, Okey Emuchay, Okezie Orji, Marc Wabara. They were
individually assured of support by Theodore Orji and his son, Chinedum, in
preference for Ikpeazu who they felt would be more submissive, loyal and
easily controlled as their stooge after they had left office.”
The matter, which suffered an initial setback after an Abuja High Court
declined jurisdiction, was resumed, following the order of the Supreme
Court that the High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the case.
The case came up on 18th March,2016 and was adjourned to 28th April, 2016
for adoption of written addresses by parties.