Police arrest lawyer over $1.5m bribery allegation against Emmanuel

A lawyer, Leo Ekpenyong was Tuesday arrested by men of the Nigeria Police in Abuja for alleging that the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel bribed the election petition tribunal chairman in the state with $1.5 million to secure favourable judgement.

The Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police, Uwemedimo Nwoko revealled this on Tuesday in Uyo, the state capital, adding that Ekpenyong was picked up and Abuja and flown to Uyo where he would be arraigned in an Uyo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

He said: “The police trailed him to Abuja where he was arrested and brought to Akwa Ibom to face the charges against him.”

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According to reports, the state government instituted a legal action against Ekpenyong after he alleged that Emmanuel gave $1.5m bribe to the state election petitions tribunal Chairman, Justice W.O. Akanbi, to secure justice for the Peoples Democratic Party in the petition filed by Godswill Akpabio challenging the election of Chris Ekpenyong.

The state government was said to have given him seven days to substantiate the claim and publish same in three reputable national newspapers or risk a legal action.

Nwoko added Leo Ekpenyong had taken his trade of blackmail across the red line.

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