Mba Ukweni, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who heads the legal team of the PDP candidate contesting next month’s elections for the Obudu, Bekwarra & Obanliku Federal Constituency, Peter Akpanke, has faulted the decision of the Cross River State Police Command, to declare his client wanted, as contained in a press release currently being circulated by the police.
The police, acting on a court order, issued by the Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu of the Cross River State High Court, released a press statement signed by Irene Ugbo, a Superintendent of Police and Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Cross River State, dated January 23, 2023, declaring Akpanke wanted in connection with the suspected murder of one Emmanuel Martin, a police Inspector. Martin was shot and killed on May 25, 2022, in Obudu, Cross River North, during the House of Representatives primaries of the PDP.
The release expressed disappoinment at the unfortunate incident, encouraging members of the public with useful information on the whereabouts of Akpanke to pass such information to the nearest police station.
Contacted shortly after the release was made public, Ukweni exclusively informed www.calitown.com that the press release against his client “is politically motivated and positioned to distract my client as he prepares for next month’s elections.”
“Peter Akpanke is not running away from any trial, but we will bring to the fore the fact that Peter did nothing, the person who committed this offence was arrested and handed over to the police. Luckily for us, the extra-judicial statements have been taken by the police. Regrettably, the person who brought those who killed the Inspector, is not standing trial. The person who who fired the shot that killed the policeman is shielded by the state governor and the Attorney General of the state had to give fiat to a private prosecutor, it shows the interest the government has in this matter”, he insisted.
We can also reveal that in the course of our investigations, competent security sources handed www.calitown.com, video recording of the young man, suspected to have fired and killed the Inspector, being interrogated by the police as he gave a vivid description of what transpired on that fateful day.
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO.
“What they are just trying to do is distract my client from concentrating on his elections. The person who brought the boy who shot and killed the officer has gone to join the governor’s camp and his name has been removed from the charge sheet…isn’t this unacceptable? We won’t let this unnecessary prosecution happen”, Ukweni said.
Akpanke revealed in a short text message to www.calitown.com that, “I have not been served any process. Ask them why they are trying me in Calabar instead of Obudu where the incident happened. Can the police show any proof of any invitation that I didn’t honour?”
