Akwa Ibom PDP guber candidate asks court to vacate arrest warrant

In another twist to the already intriguing conviction and warrant of arrest notice to Pst. Umo Eno, 2023 Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom state, the embattled Governorship aspirant has in a motion on notice filed before the court on Monday, January 9, 2023, through his team of lawyers is praying the court to set aside the warrant of arrest.

In the affidavit in support of the motion, Samuel lkpo, one of the lawyers, said the defendant applicant (Eno) found out about the suit and the warrant of arrest via social media and had never been served any court notice before then on the said matter.

Global Patriot News had earlier reported that a Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 6 led in sitting by Emmanuel Iyanna, a senior magistrate had issued a warrant on Pst. Umo Eno since December 23 after convicting the PDP Governorship candidate on charges bordering on “cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property”.

The complainant in the suit marked CR/94/2022 is one Edet Godwin Etim.

Prior to the filing of the stay of the motions Tuesday, Pst. Umo Eno through his campaign organization had denied knowledge of the said case.

In their submission before the magistrate court Tuesday, Pst. Umo Eno through his legal team said he (Eno) “had to call many of his friends to verify the facts as presented in the social media and it was confirmed, that there is such a case pending at court in Wuse Zone 6”.

Ikpo said the governorship candidate had “never been invited by the police on any matter nor had he ever made any statement to the police in connection with this case,” adding that he has “never been served with any court process”.

The counsel insisted that Pst. Umo Eno is ready to defend “any case brought against him before the court”.

In view of the tension which has clouded the political scene in Akwa Ibom State following news of the conviction, an affidavit of urgency was attached to the suit, and Pst. Umo Eno’s lawyers averred that “there is much tension in Akwa lbom state as many social media houses have been interpreting the court orders within their knowledge in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace within the state”.

They urged that the motion “should be given speedy hearing to ensure that justice is done”.