Pastor Ebebe Ukpong has denied the allegation that he led the 2015 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Akwa Ibom State, Umana Umana, to Justice Inyang Okoro’s house to discuss how to compromise court ruling.
Justice Okoro, one of the judges arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, recently, in a letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, alleged that he was being victimized over his refusal to do the bidding of the APC in the election appeal cases concerning elections in Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Abia states.
Justice Okoro, a Supreme Court judge, in the letter had alleged that Ukpong led Umana to his house in an attempt to compromise him.
Reacting to the allegation in a statement released yesterday, Ukpong insisted that he did not lead anybody to Justice Okoro’s residence or attend any meeting where the said issue of bribery was discussed.
According to the pastor, “I have read in the social media and several newspapers since the night of Tuesday, October 18, 2016, a letter purportedly written by Honourable Justice John I Okoro, JSC, and addressed to the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman, National Judicial Council.
“In the said letter, Justice Okoro alleged that I led Mr. Umana Umana to visit with him in his residence without giving any details of such visit. Many reactions have followed. I’m constrained to make this statement for record purpose: I have known, in adult context, Hon. Justice Okoro for more than three decades now. He is my brother.
“I have never led anyone to Justice Okoro nor attended any meeting in his house where the issue of bribery, corruption of any kind or perversion of justice was discussed.
“Of course, I could never have and will never contemplate such as it is against my personal principles informed by my relationship with the Almighty God. I stand always for the truth, integrity and fairness.”
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