Abia Tribunal chairman warns against bribery

Chairman of the Abia State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Justice Usman Bwala, has restated his warning to parties against coming to induce members of the tribunal.

Justice Bwala issued the warning at Monday’s sitting of the three-member tribunal of the last governorship election in the state.

Vanguard could not ascertain the reason the Chairman issued the warning, but there had been rumours in the state that certain persons had been trying to reach the judges.

Justice Bwala also advised the litigants to be wary of anybody that would come to them, posing as an intermediary between them and the tribunal members.

“We said at our inaugural sitting in June that nobody should approach us with the intent to offer us any inducement. If anybody claims that they can reach any of us as go-between, do not mind him. The person is a fraudster,” Justice Bwala noted.

Early last month, the tribunal chairman also said during proceeding that they were aware of a rumour that members had each been offered N100 million bribe and recently, there was another rumour all over the state that the tribunal members had been compromised by a party in the matter.

Vanguard learnt that it was based on these rumours that the tribunal chairman issued the warnings to avoid anybody trying to mess up their names and integrity.

“We are not interested in anybody’s money, so do not bring money to us. What we have come to do is to deliver justice in Abia,” Bwala had warned on his inaugural speech.