17 July 2020
Joe Agi, SAN has lunched a vitriol attack on a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC and former Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, former late Minister of Foreign Affairs, Matthew Mbu and Paul Erokoro, SAN, describing them as thieves NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
Agi, a Cross River North Senatorial aspirant under the platform of APC made the remarks during a consultative meeting with members of APC in Ishibori, Ogoja local government area.
The Senatorial aspirant who accused the triumvirate of buying government properties during the third republic also took a swipe at the former Attorney General of the federation, Sen. Kanu Agabi.
In the viral video which has been condemned by many Cross Riverians on social media, Agi also claimed that the 1995 communal clash between Ishibori and Bekwarra would have been settled if Chief Agabi didn't turn down his request for settlement.
According to him "I have fought very hard for Ogoja people; not because I hate Bekwarra people. You are aware of the fight between you and Ugboro people, as a Lawyer, Ishibori people said I'm their son, I should come, they're trying to cheat them. When I saw the case, I went to my senior brother, Kanu Agabi and said why not try and settle these people let's not go to court because from the papers I see, that land belong to Ishibori but well, I'm always a peacemaker, they went to court and I won the case in High court, in Appeal and Supreme court for Ogoja".
He added that "I have always challenged politicians, whether those in APC or PDP, or those who supports me or not, take this statement, challenge me anywhere. There's no politician that has contributed to the wealth of this state more than myself. And I say this because I'll give you the facts and figures.
"As a young Lawyer, when (not clear) became Governor, some of you were quite young; they sold Obudu ranch, they sold robber estate in Akamkpa, sold all those things, sold bulldozers and in fact they sold bulldozers for N100 at that time and I said God forbid. I formed what's called Cross River Redemption Movement and took federal government to court. I went to court, made trouble, I was arrested, detained but I said they were stealing the commonwealth of the people. Today, all those estates, I won, and all returned to Cross River State.
"I challenge them, they are all my friends, I ask them what they have done that I've not done but there are things I've done that they have not done. You deceive the people to elect you and you go there to mess things up.
"Until MT Mbu died he was not talking to me because he brought someone to come and buy those things. Paul Erokoro, Ndoma-Egba were indicted because they bought bulldozers for N100. It was published in law reports; the records are there. They say I indicted them and that I spoiled their names. I didn't spoil their names, I couldn't just understand how, even a tyre of bulldozer should be more than N100. That's why I'm arrogant to them to say look, you're all thieves".
The SAN has however in another video retracted his statement after the backlash from the public saying that he didn't call Ndoma-Egba a thief.
"Yesterday, I mentioned it that our dear Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba was a Commissioner then, they did those things and somebody said I called him a thief. He is not a thief".
