A group, Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance has raised alarm that a PDP governorship aspirant Mr Akan Okon has plotted to escape to evade prosecution following fresh revelations that he used a forged disclaimer letter to sue the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Umo Eno.
In a release by its Chairman, Barr Stephen Abia and made available to newsmen in Uyo yesterday, the group urged the police to act on its investigation and promptly bring Okon and everyone involved in the forgery of the alleged WAEC disclaimer letter, to book.
Recall that the Police through an officer in its Criminal Investigation Department had told a Federal High Court in Uyo that it investigated the letter paraded by Okon, purportedly sent by WAEC to a group known as Association for Advancement of Democracy in Nigeria, AADN.
In his report, he quoted the West African Examinations Council,Ikeja Zonal Office as stating explicitly that it did not author the purported covering letter dated 8th April, 2022 which was addressed to “The President of AADN.
The police investigator also presented as exhibit, a letter signed by Dr. Amos Dangut a deputy registrar and Zonal Coordinator of the West African Examination Council, which confirmed that the certificate number SG699413 and examination number 15520230 rightfully reflect the Pastor Umo Eno’s grades and personal details as presented at the time of the examination.
“We had expected Akan Okon’s lead counsel Okey Amaechi , SAN, to quickly take on the Police Investigation officer, but we learnt he told the court on Thursday September 15,2022 that he should be excused by the court to take a leave immediately and attend a burial slated two days from the date of that proceedings.
“From the forgoing, it is evident that Akan Okon’s counsel was seeking for a window through which his client could escape from the long arm of Justice.
“With the body language of Mr Akan Okon’s lead counsel indicating that the bad loser erstwhile governorship aspirant has hit his toes criminally against the law, Mr Akan might likely be tempted to run for safety outside the shores of Nigeria.” The release said.
The group further enthused that, “the Law Enforcement Agencies should never allow such to happen by abdicating their critical responsibilities in this matter. Of course, allowing Mr Akan Okon escape, as we strongly suspect he is contemplating, would have made the efforts of the police in diligently investigating Akan Okon’s wild allegations against Pastor Umo Eno, to be defeated.
“Security agents should be on red alert for the this potential fugitive. By the evidence of the Police investigations and testimony of the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, Mr Akan Okon is candidate for criminal offences of forgery and perjury. These are too weighty allegations to be negligent about,” the group posits.”
They therefore called for the immediate arrest of Okon and all his accomplices for a Court trial.
“Considering that the matter currently in court between Akan Okon and the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Umo Eno can continue unhindered with or without the presence of Mr Akan Okon, as had already finished his testimony, his next line of action will be to run away to avert arrest for his new offenses.
“He should be restricted and tracked by the law enforcement agencies. He is the prime suspect, and must be made to face the consequences of his actions in line with the dictates of the law.
“Mr Akan Okon is in court as a bitter loser against the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Pastor Umo Eno who defeated him squarely at the primaries.
“The pains of the thorough failure of Mr Akan Okon made him resort to fabricating false allegations against Pastor Umo Eno alleging that the candidate had forged educational qualifications.
“His illusion of desperate ambition further blinded him to commiting forgery and perjury which has increased calls for Mr Akan Okon’s arrest and trial.
“He is already having a bad outing in court on the case against Umo Eno which has swelled his frustration and susceptibility to fleeing from Nigeria based on credible information about his next action. It is based on this that we are calling for his immediate arrest and prosecution, to serve as a deterrent to other mischief makers.” The statement concluded.
