Former Adamawa North senator Elisha Abbo has been given an ultimatum to prove his bribery claims against the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, or face legal action.
In the alternative, Abbo was ordered to apologize to the Appeal Court President, Justice Chioma Iheme, and the whole judiciary for his bribery charges against them.
Uwemedimo Nwoko, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State, recommended that the former senator either prepare for legal action to demonstrate his bribery charges or apologize for making baseless allegations.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Court of Appeal President and others accused of accepting bribes in the performance of their judicial duties, Nwokeoma, a life bencher, stated that the former lawmaker has not produced any evidence to support his allegations of bribery against the judiciary.
At a news conference on February 1st, Abbo accused the President of the Court of Appeal and others of accepting bribes in the verdict that removed him from the Senate.
However, in response to the bribery claims, Nwokeoma stated that the judiciary and its personnel cannot be intimidated or subjected to any type of illegal blackmail.
Parts of the statement read: “On the 1st February, 2024, Senator Elisha Abbo, in a widely publicised Press Conference, made very wild and unsubstantiated allegations against the President of the Court of Appeal, the Honourable Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, the Honourable Justice Chioma Iheme Nwosu (A Justice of the Supreme Court designate) and Honourable Judges of the various Tribunals and Courts as well as Justices of the Court of Appeal.
“Senator Abbo in his reckless and unconscionable Press Briefing described the President of the Court of Appeal as a cash-and-carry Judge. He alleged that Judges now send their children and agents to go around asking for bribes.
“It is instructive to note at this stage that uptill this moment Senator Abbo has not produced any iota of evidence to substantiate his weighty allegations.
“We take very strong exceptions to the criminal blackmail deliberately fabricated and calculated to impugn on the integrity and reputation of our revered and hardworking Judges and Justices by characters like Senator Abbo.
“May I remind Senator Abbo that when he lost the case that removed him from the Senate, he openly accused the Senate President, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, CON of being the architect of his misfortune.
“When he was confronted with the task to prove the allegation, he promptly went on his knees and apologised profusely to Senator Akpabio and retracted the allegations.
“It is sad and most unfortunate that this Senator who shot into the limelight on account of his misconduct in a Sex Toy Shop in Abuja would have the criminal courage and effrontery to malign, denigrade and make such invidious imputations against our Justices and judiciary simply because he lost a case.
“I wish to state most categorically that it is totally unacceptable, morally reprehensible and legally culpable for a person with Senator Abbo’s moral credentials and profound deficits in character content to embark on such character assassination against our Justices who have sacrificially built their good reputations over the years.
“This brand of nonsense and unprovoked attacks against our Judicial Officers and the Judiciary must stop.
“I challenge Senator Abbo to promptly produce verifiable evidence to substantiate his allegations or be ready to face the consequences in law.”
