We have read in your esteemed medium the statement credited to Prof Dora Akunyili the defeated APGA candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial seat, which contains significant misinformation and under information.
Prof Dora Akunyili is right that the Election Tribunal sitting in Awka struck out the petition filed by her good self on October 20 ,2011.
However, she is wrong in misinforming the world that the file copy of the Form 008 was missing from the court file on October 20 , 2011, after being cited on October 4, 2011.
The truth is that Form TF 008 which defines the direction of the trial, since it contains the questions which SETS THE PARAMETERS FOR TRIAL has never existed and the tribunal found that as a fact.
As a result, when it was pointed out to Akunyili’s team that this all-important form was not filed, a counter affidavit was filed by the team annexing what the tribunal described as a ‘worthless document’ –a photocopy with original stamps, bearing conflicting dates- which we in the ACN know for a fact was a forged document.
This document was attached to a counter affidavit which claimed that the petitioner’s copy of the form was stolen from their hotel room.
This cock- and- bull story failed to reckon with three hard facts in line with the tribunal’s procedure.
· That 21 original copies of the form was supposed to be produced, so if one was stolen, 20 should survive, including copies served on parties.
· That the parties where supposed to be served with the original copies or at worst certified true copies within a specified time if the document existed.
· That there ought to have been a filing fee which payment ought to be evidenced.
Having failed to do the proper thing, the re was a clear resort to criminality, which made the ACN legal team move a motion inviting the security agencies to investigate the matter. Dora Akunyili is the main beneficiary of these corner-cuttings.
The motion was heard side –by side with a motion filed by INEC, the second respondent seeking to strike out the petition for non-filing of the form.
The tribunal having established that the form was not filed, but instead a ‘worthless document’ was brought held that the tribunal is handicapped to proceed and therefore had no jurisdiction to proceed.
On the second motion ,filed by Dr Chris Ngige, First Respondent, the tribunal gave Dr Ngige is at liberty to invite the police or SSS to unravel the crime.
We therefore hasten to say that the frame of Dora Akunyili’s statement which leaves out these worthy facts in the judicial records shows that she may know something about the decision to forge documents to subvert justice by all means, just like she knew something in April 2011 about the attempted compromise of a returning officer, his subsequent sack and the appointment of another who was Akunyili’s student in University of Nigeria.
We concede Akunyili her right of appeal, hoping that indeed there is anything to appeal, but insist that facts are sacred and must be placed in perspective.
While awaiting Dr Ngige’s decision and perhaps a full-scale investigation of the criminal offence clearly committed by those working to further Akunyili’s political interest, which may and may not include her person, we invite Sahara Reporters and the entire press to step forward and investigate this matter ,independent of Akunyili and the security agencies.
Thank you
Okelo Madukaife
State Publicity Secretary
ACN, Anambra State
