…Gov prepares N5billion War Chest
As the Supreme Court returns from its annual recess to hear the case of
alleged tax and submission of false information filed against Governor
Okezie Ikpeazu by a contestant in the December 8, 2014 PDP governorship
primaries in Abia state, Sir Friday Nwosu, Pointblanknews.com sources
revealed that there is tension in the state as Ikpeazu runs helter
–skelter to retain his seat.
The governor was said to have been frightened when some members of his
legal team informed him that Nwosu’s suit was laden with facts and is
clearly distinct from Uche Ogah’s suit which the Supreme Court dismissed
for failing to prove his case.
Ikpeazu is worried to the extent that he hardly spends a week in Abia
state without traveling.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that the governor has contacted a high ranking
Justice of the apex court from the South South geo political zone as well
as another female Judge at the Court of Appeal from a South East state to
help reach the Justices of the Supreme Court to have mercy on him.
According to a source at the Abia Government House, Ikpeazu is amassing a
N5 billion financial war chest to try to influence the Justices of the
apex court who will sit over the matter. The governor is worried on the
implication of the several contradictory information on his tax documents
where he swore to an oath and Nwosu’s doggedness in prosecuting the
matter, despite threats to kill him.
Ikpeazu’s testimony on the payment of taxes for the years; 2011, 2012 and
2013 as well as his dates of his employment at ASPIMS and ASEPA and taxes
paid contradicts the testimony of the Abia State Director of Taxes, James
Okoji, a fact which the Supreme Court may not over look . According to
judicial precedents, the Supreme Court may not overlook a situation where
tax was paid for Ikpeazu when he was yet to be employed in ASPIMS and
ASEPA.
A member of the State House of the Assembly said, “The governor has been
so worried on the matter. This is the last battle before 2019. It is a
matter of life and death for us. We will do anything to ensure that the
Supreme Court judgment will favour us. We will not give chance to Friday
Nwosu, our opponents are using him; but he will never be governor in this
state. It is clear that some highly placed people are behind him ,
imagine Friday Nwosu , an ordinary lawyer , hiring 3 Senior Advocates of
Nigeria for his appeal, does it not tell you that something is happening?
Even if it means to sell Abia to retain the governorship, we will do it”
Pointblanknews.com further gathered that Ikpeazu has also contacted a
traditional ruler from Osisioma Ngwa local government area whose wife is
related to the wife of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter
Onnoghen, to help prevail on her husband to deliver judgment in favour of
the governor.
Sources hint that he rented a mansion for the monarch in Aba and is
building a befitting palace for him at his country home in Osisioma Ngwa.
The governor bought a palatial home at Asokoro, Abuja, for a top ranking
security agent in the country who shares same name with President
Muhammadu Buhari’s home town.
A socio political group, Movement for Abia Unity and Progress, (MAUP)
stated that it has uncovered a plot by the governor to compromise the
Supreme Court to deliver a favourable verdict to Ikpeazu in the appeal
filed by Sir Friday Nwosu.
The group in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Francis Eme
and Secretary, Chidiebere Ogbonnaya, alleged that Ikpeazu had spent over
N22 billion buying justice, right from the election petition tribunal, the
Federal High Court as well as Court of Appeal and Supreme Court against
Dr. Alex Otti, Sir Friday Nwosu and Dr. Uche Ogah and is already
mobilizing another N3 billion to bribe the Supreme Court over the appeal
filed by Nwosu.
“This is why Abia state is at a crossroad with projects stalled and
nonpayment of between 5 to 8 months arrears owed civil servants in the
state.” the group alleged.