OBALGA: Rivers Judge Received $100,000, Group Alleges

The Obio/Akpor Chapter of the Rivers State Leadership Advancement Foundation (RIVLEAF) has accused the suspended Chairman of the Local Government Area, Hon.  Timothy Nsirim of attempting to subvert justice by offering 100,000 dollars bribe to influence the outcome of the on-going matter challenging his suspension by the Rivers State  House of Assembly.
However, in a press briefing last Tuesday in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of RIVLEAF in Obio/Akpor, Mr. Rejoice Wali alleged that one hundred thousand dollars was given by Hon. Timothy Nsirim to induce judgement in his favour.
He alleged that the money was given to a senior Judge who left the service, and questioned the rationale behind the reassignment of the matter by Hon. Justice Iche Ndu, four days to his exit from the service.
The foundation also questioned the rationale behind the Judge’s decision to abandon the issue of jurisdiction and proceeded to hear the main suit.
“Given this scenario, it becomes evident that the Judge is out to re-enact the script and to justify the one hundred thousand dollars given by Prince Timothy Nsirim”, he said.
Wali said that, a petition to this effect had been sent to the National Judicial Council in Abuja with the view to calling the Judge to order.
The foundation also urged the affected Judge to hands off the case and reassign it to another Judge as the people of Obio/Akpor had lost confidence in the manner in which the matter was being handled.
The RIVLEAF Chairman also vowed that the youths and the entire people of Obio/Akpor would resist any attempt to bring back the suspended council chairman.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo (right), in a handshake with Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Mr Sam Ortom, at a preparatory meeting to strategise on the scheduled handover of PHCN successor companies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday

Mohammed Samuel