I Did Not Abscond from My duty Post – Abia Chief Judge

The Chief Judge of Abia State, Theresa Uzoamaka Uzokwe has debunked rumours that she absconded from her duty post to avoid swearing in Uche Ogah, who received a Certificate of Return as governor-elect from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a court order.

According to PUNCH, she made this known in a statement issued on her behalf by the Acting Chief Registrar, Abia State Judiciary, Vicky Analaba, saying that she was in her office throughout work time on Thursday, June 30 2016 from 8:30AM till 4:30PM.

The attention of the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Theresa Uzoamaka Uzokwe, has been drawn to various spurious and mischievous reports alleging that the Honorable Chief Judge had absconded from her duty post on Thursday 30th June 2016, to avoid swearing in Uche Ogah as Governor of Abia State.

Contrary to the allegations of cowardice by mischievous politicians, the Chief Judge, was in her office throughout work time on Thursday 30 June 2016 from 8:30am till 4:30pm.

For the avoidance of doubt, on Thursday 30th June 2016, the Chief Judge was in her court room performing her lawful duties, including the delivery of four rulings on that date.

The particulars of the rulings in question are, HU/35CM/2015 FRANCIS AKOR vs THE STATE; HU/ICM/2016-Johnson Aseigbu vs. Commissioner of Police, HU/42CM/2016-Onyekachi Samuel vs. Commissioner of Police; HU/34CM/2016-Lucky Sampson vs. the State.

These facts are verifiable and in the records of the court. The various lawyers who appeared in the respective suits listed above are also living witnesses. This press release has become necessary in order to avoid further mischief and to set the records straight.

In a similar development, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has advised parties involved in the Abia governorship crisis to await the decision of the court before taking any action.

This is contained in a statement signed by Salisu Isah, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister.

In the statement, Isah said that as far as the minister was concerned, the constitutional powers for the legal opinion of his office had not been sought on the issue.

Isah said that so far, nobody had approached the minister to proffer any legal opinion on the matter.

As a strong believer in the rule of law, it is my belief that the law should naturally take its cause; the attorney-general will not be dragged into this controversy at this point.

The parties involved should await the decision of the courts.

The attention of the attorney-general has been drawn to the insinuations and crass lies being peddled by a cross-section of Nigerians and various media platforms alleging his involvement in the legal logjam in the state.

He wishes to clarify that those canvassing this position have no basis to do so. Of particular concern are those who have peddled ill-natured rumours with a view to misinform our discerning populace.

They want to misinform them that it was the minister, and by extension, the Federal Government that gave directives to INEC to issue Certificate of Return to Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah declaring him governor-elect.

The attorney-general has definitely not taken any action either by spoken words or body language as far as this Abia governorship crisis is concerned.

The Chief Press Secretary to the minister maintained that the rumours were not true and were only the figment of the imagination of those peddling them.