Ondo election: Makarfi faction condemns N350 million bribery allegation against judge

yungcrae

The Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday denounced a petition by a leader of the party in Ondo State claiming that a Court of Appeal judge received N350 million bribe.

The petition by Biyi Poroye, a factional chairman of the PDP in Ondo State, said Jummai Sankey was compromised by Gov. Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State to alter the outcome of an election matter before the court.Mr. Poroye belongs to the faction of the party led by a former governor of Borno State, Modu Sheriff.

Mr. Mimiko belongs to the Makarfi faction.

The accused judge, Mrs. Sankey, was handling the matter between the two factions, and was to decide, alongside two other judges, which faction had the proper candidate for the forthcoming Ondo governorship election.

The candidate for the Makarfi faction is Eyitayo Jegede, while the Sheriff faction has Jimoh Ibrahim.

Mrs. Sankey later stood down from the case.

Reacting to Mr. Poroye’s petition, the National publicity Secretary of PDP, from Mr. Makarfi’s faction, Dayo Adeyeye, said the petition did not emanate from a recognised group of PDP members.

“The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) seeks to completely dissociate itself from the Petition written by one Mr. Biyi Poroye against the Justice Jummai Sankey led Appeal Panel set up to determine appeals against the Judgment of Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court,” he said.

“We find the Petition to be distasteful, offensive, indecent and completely out of keeping with the principles, ideology and ethos of our Party to make such unsubstantiated allegations against members of an institution as important as the Judiciary.

“It is important to stress that neither the Writer of the Petition nor his sponsors are members of our Party. They are a group of people with powerful backers within and outside government who are determined to bend all institutions of democracy to suit their whims; and while failing, they are willing to resort to destructive tactics against such institutions. Even our Party is a victim of their destructive tendencies. All their attempt is to pervert justice and stop the will of justice from rolling on.

“As a responsible political Party, we reaffirm our faith in the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man. We have faith that there are men and women of integrity in the Judiciary who ensure that justice is not only done, but that it is seen to be done. We use this opportunity to encourage the Judiciary to weather this storm of blackmail, harassment and intimidation currently being heralded by evil men in the Country,” the statement said.

Source: http://nignews.com.ng/ondo-election-makarfi-faction-condemns-n350-million-bribery-allegation-against-judge/