By Hassan Zaggi
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been called upon to thoroughly investigate the viral audio where some politicians in Delta State were allegedly heard discussing how they secured tribunal judgement through the back door in favour of the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).
A Coalition of anti-corruption groups made the call at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.
The audio discussion which is currently everywhere in the social media has stirred the anger of the anti-corruption community.
The leader of the Coalition, John Onochie, who was visibly angry while briefing newsmen in Abuja, charged the EFCC, who according to him, has the mandate to fight against vote buying and election rigging, should, as a matter of urgency, study the audio where the politicians were heard discussing how they procured victories at the tribunals.
The politicians, in the viral audio, were also heard alleging that they also have the capacity to influence the decision of the Supreme Court which they said, is in their palms to do their bidding.
Part of the audio discussion between the two politicians, which was in pidgin English read: “… This one nah draw, una win this one… We are still going to supreme court… as at three days ago, they don give am to Ovie, unfortunately the thing leak. As I talk to you now, I dey Abuja. Na him una carry 7 million dollars go. We get money reach una? We make them realise say, the country go scatter if them try am… We use connection. We dey come supreme court. Na supreme court self we dey… The only one we feared was appeal court…”
The Coalition groups, however, urged the EFCC to invite all those whose voices were heard in the audio for interrogation to ascertain the level of their involvement in the alleged influencing of the Appeal Court judgement.
The groups insisted that all those involved in the alleged corrupt practices should urgently be arrested and dragged to court.
It would be recalled that the Court of Appeal recently affirmed the election of Sheriff Oborevwori, the candidate of the PDP in the March 18 governorship election in Delta State.
The judgment was delivered almost two months after the Delta State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal upheld Oborevwori’s election
