Plateau governor faults report that judges collected $5m bribe to sack him

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has faulted reports that some judges were paid $5 million bribe to sack him at the Court of Appeal.
The governor stated this on Friday, while reacting to media reports alleging that the former governor and Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong has offered $5 million bribe to judges of the Court of Appeal to sack governor Muftwang.

Media reports to that effect on Thursday has generated tension across Plateau State particularly within the rival political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.

The three justices of the Appeal Court who allegedly collected bribe, according to the report are Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, Akams, and Waziri.

The report which was circulated in social media also said that the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu had met with Lalong after a lawyers conference in Abuja on Thursday and had mandated him to deliver the bribe to the judges.

However, Governor Mutwang in a statement on Friday which was obtained by CAPITAL POST in Abuja condemned the publication and distanced himself from the narrative.

The statement which was signed by Mutwang’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere said, “Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has strongly condemned the baseless and defamatory allegations circulated by certain individuals, accusing judges of receiving a $5 million bribe for the nullification of his victory.

“Governor Mutfwang vehemently condemned the publication and attributed it to the deliberate actions of his detractors aimed at sowing discord between him and the esteemed judges and other constituted authorities.”

Expressing his deep concern over the matter, Governor Mutfwang demanded thorough investigations by security agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for the libelous publication.