AKHA INVESTIGATES ABAK ASSAULT SAGA ...C'TTEE INSISTS FAIR HEARING FOR ALL

Enwono-Abasi Elisha

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly through her committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said she is poised on giving fair hearing to all parties involved in the assault saga involving the suspended Abak Chairman, Barr. Imoh William and his Protocol Officer, Mr. Uduakobong Aniekan Sam Ekpo against one Mr. Godwin Abraham, an artisan worker.

Rt. Hon. Mark Esset, Chairman of the committee

In its Investigative Public Hearing session earlier today, the Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs reiterated that her decision will not be under any form of duress as all parties concerned will be given fair hearing.

"I want to assure Akwa Ibom people that fair hearing will be given to all parties as you asked the committee to do what is right and you are assured that justice will be done," Elder Mark Esset.

It could be recalled that the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on an emergency sitting of July 25th 2019 received a report of matter of urgent public importance presenting the unwholesome development involving the erstwhile Abak Council Chairman, his aide against Mr. Godwin Abraham, an event decorator.

In its plenary of July 25 2019, after due consideration of the matter, the house resolved that the Chairman, Mr. Imoh William be suspended from office pending when the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs headed by Rt. Hon. Mark Esset will come up with its report.

In his testimony, the victim Mr, Godwin Abraham, an event decorator and PDP Publicity Secretary, Otoro Ward 1, Abak LGA said he had worked on three different occasions for the erstwhile Chairman since March 12, 2017 to Jan 18, 2018 without payment. He said he has been trying to reach out to the Chairman for the payment to no avail.

According to him, the last visit was on Saturday, May 26, 2018 when he (Chairman) asked his security men to pushed him out of his compound.

Afterwards, he was however lured and beaten to pulp by the Chairman's aide (Mr. Uduakobong Aniekan Sam Ekpo a.k.a Alele) after he made a facebook post on his experience with the Chairman.

Members of the committee

The then Protocol/Security Officer of the Chairman, Mr. Uduakobong Aniekan Sam Ekpo a.k.a Alele in his testimony said he went to solicit for Chairman's assistance for his academic pursuit on this fateful day, April 13, 2019.

He said while there, the Chairman complained of insult from many quarters on his personality which prompted him (Alele) to point to him the most recent which was that of Mr Godwin Abraham.

According to Alele, he asked for Chairman's permission to warn Mr. Abraham as he received transport fare of N5,000 from the Chairman to facilitate the 'warning' mission.

Alele said it was not in his initial intention to beat up Godwin Abraham but he provoked him with his response on why he should dare say that the Chairman was a slave in his facebook post.

When cross examined by the committee members on why he meted such act on the  victim, Alele said he "was doing his duty as a security and protocol officer to the chairman."

Alele also said he was later picked up by the police after Godwin Abraham, the victim laid complaint to the police which he was detained for five days.

He said the police later reached out to the Chairman who gave money for his bail, paid the sum of N75,000, owed the victim and N50,000 for the alleged missing sum of Godwin Abraham when was manhandled by him (Alele) totalling N125,000.

It was made known to the committee that Godwin Abraham agreed that the matter be settled amicably as he accepted the said sum.

The suspended Chairman, Barr. Imoh William debunked the allegation that he gave transport fare to his then aide to manhandle the victim, Godwin Abraham. He said he can never be part of such ignoble act. Hence, when the information got to him of the development, he strongly reproved it which the aide was relieved of his duties.

Suspended Chairman of Abak, Barr Imoh William

The Chairman said, he even tried to reach out to the victim through his aide which proved abortive.

On behalf of his former aide, the embattled Chairman pleaded the committee, entire State Legislature and Akwa Ibom people for forgiveness of such inhumane act as he never supported such in his leadership. He also asked the entire state to forgive him for any act he was coopted in.

In hid part, Alele pleaded the victim, the House and the entire state for mercy as he can never repeat such act in his entire life.

"I plead with the Committee and the entire state to please tamper justice with mercy. To err is human, to forgive divine. I have never done this in my entire life and I will never repeat it again in my life. Please forgive me," Alele pleaded.

However, the House Committee did not conclude on the matter hoping to reconvened on a date as will be announced.

Mr. Godwin Abraham

The Committee was chaired by Rt. Hon. Mark Esset and deputized by Rt. Hon. Asuquo Archibong (Urue Offong/Oruko).

Other members include; Hon. Godwin Ekpo (Ibiono Ibom); Rt. Hon. Aniekan Uko (Ibesikpo Asutan); Rt. Hon. Nse Essien (Onna); Rt. Hon. Effiong Bassey (Oron/Udung Uko); Rt. Hon. Idongesit Ntekpere (Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara); Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh (Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo); Hon. Mfon Idung (Ika/Etim Ekpo); Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Dennis Akpan (Etinan); Rt. Hon. David Lawrence (Eket); Hon. (Dr.) Charity Idio (Ukanafun).