Albert Bassey, a candidate for the Young Progressives Party (YPP) in Akwa Ibom, is being represented by Ahmed Raji, who has requested that the gubernatorial election petition tribunal be moved to Abuja due to claimed threats against his life.
Raji said he had written to the president of the court of appeal, requesting to move the tribunal to the federal capital territory (FCT) or another secure place, in a letter dated June 20 and sent to the tribunal chairman in Uyo, the state capital.
The senior attorney’s alternative request is to “disband” the tribunal.
Because of the unpleasant, perhaps fatal, exposure, we had during the procedures on June 20, 2023, Raji was forced to make this request.
The current governor of Akwa Ibom state, Eno Umo, ordered this potentially fatal exposure.
Daniel Akpan, a member of staff at the University of Uyo who testified as a witness, is allegedly also under threats, according to the senior attorney.
As a result of “life threats from certain unidentified parties, who said he shouldn’t have validated the academic records of the Eno Umo Bassey,” Akpan was originally hesitant to testify, according to him.
The lawyer said, “He had to relocate his family from Uyo because the life threats were so great.
“Unknown persons and Eno Umo Bassey followers prevented the aforementioned witness, Daniel Akpan, from testifying during the June 20, 2023 proceedings.
In order to safeguard the perimeters for the witness, himself, and his group of attorneys, the petitioners had to request extra reinforcement and security officers.
The witness claimed before the honourable tribunal that he had received many calls from unidentified people cautioning him not to testify at the tribunal while he was in the witness box.
He further protested to the court’s honour that these people had threatened to murder him and asked the court for protection.
“However, the tribunal dismissed this case, maybe because he was seen as a powerless simple guy,” the statement reads.
As the court stopped the hearing, Raji said, “Unknown persons, military personnel, and police officials, in separate squads, prevented my team and I from returning home.”
He said we were all given the order to exit our trucks while being shot at with tear gas and heavy weaponry.
We can see that Akwa Ibom state is no longer a secure place for us to dwell. Because of this, there is no longer any chance for a just, secure, and fair trial in Uyo.
Irresistibly inspired to write this letter, not only for the safety of our attorneys but also for justice, equality, and fairness, which can no longer be realised in Uyo, is the culmination of events in this respect, which occurred during and after the hearings of June 20, 2023.
“In light of the above, I humbly encourage your lordship to take a moment and wait for additional instructions from the president of the court of appeal since we have submitted a complaint to his lord that poses a severe danger to life.
If this honourable tribunal continues to meet in Uyo, “At this time, none of the attorneys representing the petitioners is in a good state of mind to undertake further proceedings.”
