Daniel Agbor|29 March 2016|12:30pm
In what is supposed to be a Daniel come to judgment in the Joe Agi vs Sen. Ben Ayade case in court, the final move has been made to the Apex Court.
It will be recalled that it all began at the Federal High Court Abuja before Justice Abdul Kalahari wherein the learned silk Joe Agi SAN raised a number of issues against Sen. Ben Ayade. Justice was however stood on the head when in his judgment, his Lordship rather played on words. Why wouldn't he act as such when a whooping #700million of Cross River State funds was at stake? Evidently, the judge had been compromised which is his stock in trade as is with the case of the current Sen. President Dr. Bukola Saraki.
In the above case, the judge was kind enough to disqualify himself due to public outcry. This happened when all projects proposed are yet to take off in the state due to paucity of funds.
Determined to salvage the depressing economy of the state and restore confidence to Cross Riverians, Joe Agi SAN took the case to the Court of Appeal. At the Court of Appeal, the businessman governor of Cross River State was said to have purchased the judgment at the Court of Appeal with over #2billion Naira. This confirmed the boasting of his council Paul Erokoro SAN in a beer parlour in Calabar at Armani Guest House located around Mekenge Layout. He boosted further that more money will be used again.
This is happening at a time of dwindling oil revenue in the country and the state in which case monies meant for the development of the state is being ferried away into wasteful and useless ventures.
It is public knowledge that a governor said he bought the seat of government which is the palatial Diamond Hill Mansion in Leopard Town, Calabar. This same house now custodies volumes of raw cash belonging to Cross River State. Reliable information has it that, on Tuesday the 22nd of March, 2016. The Accountant General of the state who is a cousin of Sen Ben Ayade was directed to lift all those monies being hard currency out of the Government House. These monies has been stock-piled in preparation of defending a case against him by Joe Agi SAN was lifted on the 22nd March, 2016 with the aim of delivering it to Paul Erokoro SAN in Abuja for the purpose of influencing the choice of judges and the judgment at the Supreme Court.
It is worrisome that our Businessman Governor is actually engaging in a business of merchandizing which he is well known for and which is different from business of modern governance. Modern governance deals with the development of people and society in which case public funds must be judiciously used for the benefits of all members of that society not for family members.
One would have thought that a learned silk like Paul Erokoro SAN who was a commissioner in the state in the early 80s at an early age should be more mature both as an Administrator and a statesman in Cross River to be able to purposefully advise his client rather than confuse him and make billions from the young man whom available records shows that he is 47, 48 and 50 all at the same time with the same date of 2nd March.
We have it on authority that the bailout fund of 7.8billion Naira meant to invigorate the economy of the state is lying in a Skye Bank account of Frank Ayade in Lagos. One wonders whether the state treasury is in the private treasury of the Ayades.
Similarly, we have it on good record that SUBEB is now the conduit pipe of siphoning monies meant for the education of children of Cross River State as over 600 million Naira being state counter-part funds have been siphoned into the account of Frank Ayade in Skye Bank.
While all these are happening, we have it on record that over twenty companies have been registered by the State Government through Alphonsus Eba Ogar Esq. (Okadigbo) prior to his appointment as Special Adviser Due Process, supposedly on behalf of the State Government, but with Directors as family members of the Ayades. These family members are meant to expand the window of siphoning state funds.
The people of Cross River will like to place it on record that there is noting that is hidden for life. Light will always comprehend darkness.Where the Judge and Justices of the lower Court failed, we trust the most erudite, courageous, celebrated and God fearing Justices of the Supreme Court to uphold the tenets of justice and excercise their judicial powers without fear or favour as examplified by the judicial logo.
We as Christians find solace and are encouraged by the word of God in Eccle 5:8.
Daniel Agbor
Writes from Calabar
