Anambra Senatorial Crisis: The forged Documents that indict Senator Uba-Igbeke
For the man called Senator Alphonsus Uba-Igbeke, it rings true that it never rains but it pours. Huhuonline.com has obtained exclusive documents that prove beyond reasonable doubt that the Senator committed forgery, contravening Section 464 (a) (b) and (d) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 FLN 2004 which constitutes an offence under Section 467, 468 and 473(2) of the Criminal Code Act Cap C38 FLN 2004. The documents show that the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) and even the Anambra State branch of the ruling Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP) have disavowed Senator Igbeke and distanced themselves from what one local INEC official described as 'broad day light electoral robbery'.
The case against Senator Igbeke is so compelling; the evidence so overwhelming as to leave even his lawyer, Festus Keyamo in any doubt that Senator Igbeke's claim to have won the Anambra North Senatorial Zone primaries is hocus pocus hogwash amid mounting evidence that Prince John Okechukwu Emeka Jr. rightfully won the PDP primaries and went ahead to contest and win the Senate seat for Anambra North District during the April 9, 2011 elections.
The documents obtained by Huhuonline.com show a brazen allocation of figures and manipulation of the genuine results from the PDP Anambra primaries by Senator Igbeke after he had been thoroughly defeated at the polls. Most notably, the INEC certified true copies of the Anambra North Senatorial Zone Primary results and the INEC Report on the Anambra Senatorial Primary election that held on January 10, 2011 at the Johneb Hotel, Awkuzu, were found to be at variance with copies of the same documents filed and exhibited by Senator Igbeke, purportedly to have been the same documents from INEC office in Awka. (See attachment)
Another set of documents relates to the certified true copies of the list of successful aspirants in the Anambra State Senatorial Zone Primaries submitted by PDP Anambra State Chairman, Ben Udeozor and certified by the legal officer AA Umar. Whereas the authentic copies had John Emeka's name as the winner of the primaries, the copies tendered in court by Senator Igbeke has his name as the winner of the North District primaries. (See other attachment)
The Nigerian Police sees forgery and power abuse in Senator Igbeke's actions when he fraudulently altered the results of the PDP Anambra North Senatorial District primaries and then used the forged documents to induce Justice Abdu-Kafarati into erroneously declaring him winner of an election he never contested, let alone won; a criminal offence under Section 118(1) (a), (b) and (c) of the 2011 Electoral Act. The offence is also punishable under Section 118(2) of the 2010 Electoral Act.
If and when Senator Alphonsus Igbeke will have his day in court, police sources told Huhuonline.com that he will also be facing additional charges for lying under oath, large-scale fraud and power abuse, making misleading statements in sworn affidavits and depositions and obstruction of justice. Senator Igbeke may also face money-laundering and tax fraud charges as police investigators widen the probe.
The issue of who won the Anambra North Senatorial District primaries which held on is presently under litigation in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/189/2011 -Senator Alphonsus Uba-Igbeke v/s INEC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Prince John O. Emeka. But according to the documents obtained by Huhuonline.com, six candidates contested the Anambra State North Zone primaries with the following results:
S/NO CANDIDATE SEX VOTES SCORED
1 JOHN EMEKA JNR M 1156
2 HON CELESTIN UGHANZE M 295
3 CHIEF DENNIS ODIFE M 115
4 SEN. ALPHONSUS IGBEKE M 74
5 HON UZOKA OKWUDILI M 33
6 CHIEF TONY NNACHETA M 27
From the above results, it is evident to anyone not blinded by prejudice or self-interest that John Emeka Jr. won the primaries by a landslide of 1156 votes against Senator Igbeke who came a distant fourth with 74 votes. This figure corresponds with the certified result sheet in exhibit 1. (See attachment)
On January 12, 2011, Justice DOC Amaechina, in response to a motion ex-parte filed by the Anambra State PDP executive led by Benji Udeozor backing its list of nominated candidates for the 2011 State and National Assembly elections in Anambra state, restrained both the PDP and INEC from submitting and accepting any other list of names other than that submitted by it. (See exhibit 3) The restraining order by Justice Amaechina was received and acknowledged by INEC on January 14, 2011 . (See exhibit 4).
On the same January 14, 2011 , Senator Igbeke made a false deposition in the Abuja High Court claiming to have won the primaries. According to his deposition obtained by Huhuonline.com, Senator Igbeke claimed that the PDP had: 'on January 8, 2011, conducted parallel primaries through a panel headed by Senator Wanku, for the candidates to represent the party in offices, including the Senate for the Anambra North Senatorial District…I presented myself and emerged victorious in that exercise wherein there were three hundred and one (301) delegates at the election for the position of Senator for the Anambra North Electoral District.'
Senator Igbeke claimed in the affidavit that of the 301 delegates who voted in this his imaginary primaries on January 8, 2011, he obtained 165 votes, adding that he was duly issued 'a certified true copy of the list of delegates who participated in the exercise and was subsequently given a copy duly certified by the PDP Electoral Panel on 11th January, 2001.' Senator Igbeke also averred that the 165 delegates who voted for him 'volunteered affidavits supported by their photographs' which he tendered as exhibit and justified his decision to seize the court on the issue on grounds that: ' I was compelled to embark on the forgoing owing to my previous experience in the party in 2003 and 2007 when after my victory at the primaries for the Anambra East and West Federal constituency, my name became the one name in the list of PDP candidates that was unilaterally substituted for another.'
Unfortunately for Senator Igbeke, the PDP primary result sheet he presented at the Federal High Court in Abuja did not indicate that he won the primaries with 165 votes. Rather, the certified true copy of the results he presented to the court, presided over by Justice Abdu Kafarati showed that he had won the Anambra North Senatorial Zone primaries with 1173 votes. (See exhibit 6). Contrast this with exhibit 1 and you will notice that John Emeka's votes have been reduced from 1156 to 156. Whereas the primary source of the results sheet presented by Senator Igbeke was supposed to be in Awka, Anambra State , Senator Igbeke's copy was allegedly certified by a certain A.A. Umar, of INEC Abuja. This usurpation and misrepresentation attracted the anger of the Anambra Returning Electoral Commissioner who distanced himself from the sinister machinations in a petition the INEC chairman. (Compare exhibit 7 & 10)
Despite the overwhelming evidence, it stretches credulity that Justice Abdu Kafarati went out of his way to issue a frivolous judgment in Senator Igbeke's favor. The documents obtained by huhuonline.com show that the court order by Justice Kafarati, declaring Senator Igbeke as the winner of the Anambra North Senatorial Zone primaries, ostensibly issued on March 17, 2011, was actually signed on January 31, 2011; forty-five (45) days before the commencement of the case. (See exhibit 18). If this is not premeditation to abet and commit forgery, then one wonders what really is!
There may be no end yet to the controversy trailing Senator Alphonsus Uba-Igbeke as police widen the dragnet around the Federal lawmaker. His lawyer, Festus Keyamo is playing the devil's advocate by threatening the police with court action, should they try to arrest Senator Igbeke. (See other story) If anything, this is just a abuse of the court process and the rule of law. An Abuja magistrate court has already issued an arrest warrant for Senator Igbeke for forgery, and it is now incumbent on President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP party to save themselves any further embarrassment by making sure that the fugitive Senator is not sworn in, when the Senate convenes next June 2, 2011.
Exhibit 1
The case against Senator Igbeke is so compelling; the evidence so overwhelming as to leave even his lawyer, Festus Keyamo in any doubt that Senator Igbeke's claim to have won the Anambra North Senatorial Zone primaries is hocus pocus hogwash amid mounting evidence that Prince John Okechukwu Emeka Jr. rightfully won the PDP primaries and went ahead to contest and win the Senate seat for Anambra North District during the April 9, 2011 elections.
The documents obtained by Huhuonline.com show a brazen allocation of figures and manipulation of the genuine results from the PDP Anambra primaries by Senator Igbeke after he had been thoroughly defeated at the polls. Most notably, the INEC certified true copies of the Anambra North Senatorial Zone Primary results and the INEC Report on the Anambra Senatorial Primary election that held on January 10, 2011 at the Johneb Hotel, Awkuzu, were found to be at variance with copies of the same documents filed and exhibited by Senator Igbeke, purportedly to have been the same documents from INEC office in Awka. (See attachment)
Another set of documents relates to the certified true copies of the list of successful aspirants in the Anambra State Senatorial Zone Primaries submitted by PDP Anambra State Chairman, Ben Udeozor and certified by the legal officer AA Umar. Whereas the authentic copies had John Emeka's name as the winner of the primaries, the copies tendered in court by Senator Igbeke has his name as the winner of the North District primaries. (See other attachment)
The Nigerian Police sees forgery and power abuse in Senator Igbeke's actions when he fraudulently altered the results of the PDP Anambra North Senatorial District primaries and then used the forged documents to induce Justice Abdu-Kafarati into erroneously declaring him winner of an election he never contested, let alone won; a criminal offence under Section 118(1) (a), (b) and (c) of the 2011 Electoral Act. The offence is also punishable under Section 118(2) of the 2010 Electoral Act.
If and when Senator Alphonsus Igbeke will have his day in court, police sources told Huhuonline.com that he will also be facing additional charges for lying under oath, large-scale fraud and power abuse, making misleading statements in sworn affidavits and depositions and obstruction of justice. Senator Igbeke may also face money-laundering and tax fraud charges as police investigators widen the probe.
The issue of who won the Anambra North Senatorial District primaries which held on is presently under litigation in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/189/2011 -Senator Alphonsus Uba-Igbeke v/s INEC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Prince John O. Emeka. But according to the documents obtained by Huhuonline.com, six candidates contested the Anambra State North Zone primaries with the following results:
S/NO CANDIDATE SEX VOTES SCORED
1 JOHN EMEKA JNR M 1156
2 HON CELESTIN UGHANZE M 295
3 CHIEF DENNIS ODIFE M 115
4 SEN. ALPHONSUS IGBEKE M 74
5 HON UZOKA OKWUDILI M 33
6 CHIEF TONY NNACHETA M 27
From the above results, it is evident to anyone not blinded by prejudice or self-interest that John Emeka Jr. won the primaries by a landslide of 1156 votes against Senator Igbeke who came a distant fourth with 74 votes. This figure corresponds with the certified result sheet in exhibit 1. (See attachment)
On January 12, 2011, Justice DOC Amaechina, in response to a motion ex-parte filed by the Anambra State PDP executive led by Benji Udeozor backing its list of nominated candidates for the 2011 State and National Assembly elections in Anambra state, restrained both the PDP and INEC from submitting and accepting any other list of names other than that submitted by it. (See exhibit 3) The restraining order by Justice Amaechina was received and acknowledged by INEC on January 14, 2011 . (See exhibit 4).
On the same January 14, 2011 , Senator Igbeke made a false deposition in the Abuja High Court claiming to have won the primaries. According to his deposition obtained by Huhuonline.com, Senator Igbeke claimed that the PDP had: 'on January 8, 2011, conducted parallel primaries through a panel headed by Senator Wanku, for the candidates to represent the party in offices, including the Senate for the Anambra North Senatorial District…I presented myself and emerged victorious in that exercise wherein there were three hundred and one (301) delegates at the election for the position of Senator for the Anambra North Electoral District.'
Senator Igbeke claimed in the affidavit that of the 301 delegates who voted in this his imaginary primaries on January 8, 2011, he obtained 165 votes, adding that he was duly issued 'a certified true copy of the list of delegates who participated in the exercise and was subsequently given a copy duly certified by the PDP Electoral Panel on 11th January, 2001.' Senator Igbeke also averred that the 165 delegates who voted for him 'volunteered affidavits supported by their photographs' which he tendered as exhibit and justified his decision to seize the court on the issue on grounds that: ' I was compelled to embark on the forgoing owing to my previous experience in the party in 2003 and 2007 when after my victory at the primaries for the Anambra East and West Federal constituency, my name became the one name in the list of PDP candidates that was unilaterally substituted for another.'
Unfortunately for Senator Igbeke, the PDP primary result sheet he presented at the Federal High Court in Abuja did not indicate that he won the primaries with 165 votes. Rather, the certified true copy of the results he presented to the court, presided over by Justice Abdu Kafarati showed that he had won the Anambra North Senatorial Zone primaries with 1173 votes. (See exhibit 6). Contrast this with exhibit 1 and you will notice that John Emeka's votes have been reduced from 1156 to 156. Whereas the primary source of the results sheet presented by Senator Igbeke was supposed to be in Awka, Anambra State , Senator Igbeke's copy was allegedly certified by a certain A.A. Umar, of INEC Abuja. This usurpation and misrepresentation attracted the anger of the Anambra Returning Electoral Commissioner who distanced himself from the sinister machinations in a petition the INEC chairman. (Compare exhibit 7 & 10)
Despite the overwhelming evidence, it stretches credulity that Justice Abdu Kafarati went out of his way to issue a frivolous judgment in Senator Igbeke's favor. The documents obtained by huhuonline.com show that the court order by Justice Kafarati, declaring Senator Igbeke as the winner of the Anambra North Senatorial Zone primaries, ostensibly issued on March 17, 2011, was actually signed on January 31, 2011; forty-five (45) days before the commencement of the case. (See exhibit 18). If this is not premeditation to abet and commit forgery, then one wonders what really is!
There may be no end yet to the controversy trailing Senator Alphonsus Uba-Igbeke as police widen the dragnet around the Federal lawmaker. His lawyer, Festus Keyamo is playing the devil's advocate by threatening the police with court action, should they try to arrest Senator Igbeke. (See other story) If anything, this is just a abuse of the court process and the rule of law. An Abuja magistrate court has already issued an arrest warrant for Senator Igbeke for forgery, and it is now incumbent on President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP party to save themselves any further embarrassment by making sure that the fugitive Senator is not sworn in, when the Senate convenes next June 2, 2011.
exhibit1