My arrest is politically motivated, says Akwa Ibom candidate
The governorship
candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Akwa Ibom State,
James Akpanudoedehe, has described his arrest and subsequent trial in
Abuja as an attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop him
from campaigning for the governorship election in the state.
He told a Federal
High Court in Abuja yesterday that his arraignment by the police was
politically motivated. His counsel, Kola Awodein told the presiding
judge, Adamu Bello that Mr Akpanudoedehe’s arrest in Akwa Ibom State
and his quick arraignment in Abuja was designed to keep him away from
the campaign trail.
Mr Akpanudoedehe,
who is standing trial for treason, has been in police custody since
last Friday following an order of the court that he be remanded pending
yesterday when his bail application was heard. He was arraigned on a
four-count criminal charge bothering on treason and felony, and pleaded
not guilty to all.
The court will tomorrow rule on his bail application.
The accused, a
former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was arrested
over last week’s clash between supporters of his party and those of the
PDP in the state during which many people were killed and properties
worth millions of naira damaged.
Mr Awodein urged
the court to grant his client bail pending the hearing and
determination of the charge against him by the police. He argued
further that the accused person be admitted to bail by the court based
on his antecedent as two-time senator, former FCT minister, former Uyo
Local Government Area Chairman and at present, a governorship candidate.
The counsel also
told the court that there was an earlier phantom murder allegation
against the accused person, in which the police searched his residences
in Uyo and Abuja and found nothing incriminating.
“The applicant was
compelled to approach a court of competent jurisdiction when he was
being harassed to create an enabling political environment to carry out
his campaign like every other candidate in the state and the court made
an order restraining the police from interrupting his campaign,” he
said.
He also told the
court that Mr Akpanudoedehe has an ailment that requires frequent
medical attention, a position he said was not countered by the
prosecution. He said the prosecution’s submission that they are still
investigating the matter showed that they have yet to establish a prima
facie case against the accused.
But the police
counsel, R. E Nkem asked the court not to grant the accused person bail
in view of the nature of the offence and the severity of the
punishment, if found guilty.
“The accused person
is charged with treason and other pending charges like that of murder,
arson and others, as such he should not be granted bail,” Mr Nkem said.
Justice Bello, after hearing from all the parties adjourned till Thursday, March 31st, 2011 to rule on the bail application.
The charge
The Police accused
Mr. Akpanudoedehe of levying war against the state with intent to
intimidate the governor of the State, Godswill Akpabio.
The charge sheet
read: “That you, John James Akpanudoedehe, ‘M’ and others now at large
as citizens of the Nigeria, on the 22nd day of March, 2011, at Ikot
Ekpene in Akwa Ibom state did conspire amongst yourselves to commit
felony, to wit: Treason by levying war against the state with intent to
cause such levying of war as would intimidate or overawe the governor
of the state and you thereby committed an offence punishable under
Section 37(2) of the Criminal Procedure Act Cap ‘C’ 38 Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you, John
James Akpanudoedehe, ‘M’ and others now at large, as citizens of the
Nigeria on the 22nd day of March, 2011, at Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom
state in the Abuja Division did levy war against the state in order to
intimidate or overawe the governor of the state by discharging several
gun shots at him and his entourage while on his official assignment and
you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37 (10 of the
Criminal Code Act Cap ‘C’ 38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
Mr Akpanudoedehe pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge.
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