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JUSTICE ODOKWO’S JUDGEMENT AND THE MANY LIES OF SENATOR AKPABIO

By Daniel Etokidem

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, Senator Akpabio flagged off his ill-fated Senatorial campaign in Oruk Anam LGA and in his characteristic manner, he began by not just twisting history, but by telling so many lies especially about his defeat in 2019 Senatorial race by Senator Chris Ekpenyong. If not for the inherent mischief in his submission, one could have rationalized and excused him on the alter of ignorance. But this was not a case of ignorance, it was his usual way of standing truth on the head.

He was reported to have said that people conspired to rig him out in 2019. He did not stop there. He went a step further to add salt to injury by submitting that those who rigged the polls against him are today in jail, in apparent reference to Prof Peter Ogban who was convicted by the Court for manipulation of the election results in Akpabio’s favor, especially in Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo LGA’s.

It is not just the fallaciousness of his claim that offends, or the flagrant distortion of facts and history but the audacious arrogance that accompanied it. The absence of civilized rules of engagement by him notwithstanding, nothing on earth justifies his callousness against Prof Peter Ogban, whose life has been permanently altered by his desire to work for and please Akpabio, who has now turned around to throw him under the bus in the most callous of manners.

That insensitive cowardly display in Oruk Anam of all places, is not only pugnacious indecent barbarity but further epitomizes the extent to which Senator Akpabio could go to ridicule a man who fell from grace to grass, struggling to commit a crime for the sake and help of Akpabio. The indignant callousness of that messaging against a man he recruited to help him; who did all he could to help rig him into power, says a lot.

Akpabio’s latest lie further exposes the kind of politician he is. This perhaps further opens a window to his inner turmoil. Afterall, history has shown that it is not what a man calls himself that matters but what people perceive him to be. As they say, when morality fails, impunity reigns. This might explains why many with conscience, could not have been amused by such bare-faced lie against a man who is already down, beaten and ruined for trying to help Akpabio. The barbarian callousness against the electoral officer is further proof that whoever does a favour to Akpabio, does so at his or her own risk.

No matter how Akpabio wants to twist history, the truth is that in 2019, he tried unsuccessfully to rig the Feb 24, 2019 Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District election which he lost to incumbent Senator Chris Ekpeyong.

For the records, Prof Peter Ogban was prosecuted by INEC for rigging the Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial election for Akpabio. Specifically, for manipulation of the Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo LGA’s results. He was arraigned before the Court on December, 15, 2020 on a two-count charge of fraudulent manipulation of polling scores of two political parties contrary to and punishable under section 123(1) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and falsification, publication and announcement of fake election results contrary to and punishable under section 123 (4) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), while serving as the Senatorial Collation/Returning Officer of the National Assembly Elections held on 24th February, 2019 in Etim Ekpo and Oruk Anam Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.

To start with the, the March 25, 2021 judgement of Hon Justice Augustine D. Odokwo, was an indictment on the many criminal acts Akpabio masterminded in 2019, some against his former close allies. In Essien Udim LGA for instance, frustrated at his defeat on home soil, Barr Imoh Okpopo and Hon Sunyiekekere Inokon were assaulted on his orders. INEC staff and NYSC members who served as ad hoc staff were kidnapped and detained in Ukana. The videos are still there on social media, the evidence are still there, the witnesses of his electoral horror are still alive.

The judgement was not only an indictment on him but a triumph of good over evil, truth over falsehood, reason over folly, popularity over impunity and past glory, and above all, people’s power over federal might.

Except of the judgement reads” “In count one, it is alleged that the accused person on 24th day of February 2019 at the INEC office in Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court while performing the ad-hoc duty as the Akwa Ibom State North West Senatorial Collation/Returning officer in the National Assembly Election held on 24th February, 2019 fraudulently manipulated scores of two political parties which scores are at variance with the scores recorded by the Local Government Area Collation officers of Etim Ekpo and Oruk Anam Local Government Areas”.

The 2nd count reads as follows: “the accused person on 24th day of February 2019 at the INEC office in Ikot Ekpene, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court while acting as the Akwa Ibom State North West Senatorial Collation/Returning officer of the National Assembly Elections held on the aforesaid date did falsify, publish and announced fake election results in Etim Ekpo and Oruk Anam Local Government Areas”.

In the judgement delivered on Thursday, March 25, 2021 by Hon Justice Augustine D. Odokwo of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State in Ikot Ekpene, with Charge No: HT/29C/2020 between the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC (COMPLAINANT) and Prof Peter Ikor Ogban, (ACCUSED PERSON), was found guilty as charged.

What was the bone of contention? The results recorded by the Local Government Area Collation officers of Etim Ekpo and Oruk Anam Local Government Areas were falsified by the Senatorial District Returning Officer to favour Akpabio and the APC.

In Oruk Anam LGA, PDP scored 25,123 to APC’s 10,534. But the Senatorial District Returning Officer recorded 15,534 for APC and PDP 20,123 in form EC8D (1). “The difference noted is that in Exhibit 3, the accused person recorded for APC – 15, 534, difference of increase of 5, 000. For PDP the accused person recorded 20,123. The figure there was reduced by 5,000”, the Judge declared.

In Etim Ekpo LGA, APC scored 2,671 but 5,671 was recorded in form EC8D (1) while the PDP scored 6,603 but 3,306 was recorded.

“The offences in the two counts are contrary to sections 123 (1) and 123 (4) of the Electoral Act, 2010 as amended. The offence in each count attracts the punishment prescribed for it by law. In a bid to proof the alleged offences against the accused person, the prosecution called two subpoenaed witnesses who testified as PW1 and PW2 respectively. The accused person in denying the criminal allegations against him testified for himself as DW1 and called no other witness”.

“In the final result and in the circumstances of this case, I hold that the offence of Fraudulent Manipulation of polling scores of two political parties and Falsification, Publication and announcement of fake election results in the two counts charge have been proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution against the accused person. I find the accused person guilty as charged”, Hon Justice Augustine D. Odokwo declared.

These are the facts and it is sad that in 2023, Akpabio, having misread Annang cultural anthropology and elementary political history will want to twist history to suit his political mischief.

The good news is that in 26 days from today, voters in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District are going to the polls to elect their next Senator again. As Akpabio finally unravels, stumbling from one political mis-judgement to another, he reminds us of a dazed boxer who is unable to gather his scrambled wits together. It’s only natural that if he does not end up biting the referee in frenzied disorientation, he may yet set up the rigged canvas ablaze in a desperate act of terminal frustration.

But let no man lie about the facts of what happened in 2019. Not when these facts are both in the Court of Law and in the Court of Public Opinion. We may forgive, but we can never forget the horrors of “War Saw Saw War”. He would kiss the canvas again, no matter how much effort he exerts, to revise history. It is a matter of days.