By Archibong Jeremiah
The Cross River State Attorney General, Barrister Joe Abang has been accused of allegedly collecting two million naira bribe to bend the hand of justice in favor of some indicted policemen involved in the extra judicial killing of one Stanley Etim.
The accusation was made by James Ibor, Esq. Principal Officer Basic Rights Counsel (BRC) and lawyer to the family of the deceased in a statement to our newsroom.
The statement reads in part, “We have come to the conclusion that the office of the Attorney General of Cross River State have degenerated to selling justice to the highest bidder. We are startled and ashamed to confirm that the Attorney General collected the sum of two million naira from the suspects; Inspt. Uno Egwu, Sgt. Uchenna Aligu, Sgt. Peter Njoku and Cpl. Bassey Okim who gruesomely murdered in cold blood, to return a no case for them”.
Furthermore, James Ibor, Esq. in the statement recalled that in a letter dated July 28, 2016 with reference number BRC/CAL/AG-CRS/VOL.8/24/2016 had drawn the attention of the Attorney General to plots of foul play but got not response which necessitated another dated September 16, 2016 with reference number BRC/CAL/AG-CRS/VOL.8/89/2016 that “the Director Department of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Justice, Calabar filed a legal opinion at the Chief Magistrate Court, Calabar which completely exonerated the accused persons despite the weighty indictment that led to their dismissal and the unassailable medical evidence which irresistibly point to the fact that the accused persons indeed have a case to answer”.
Continuing, the attorney to the deceased family lashed the AG saying “The Honorable Attorney General is a dishonorable man; he is not just corrupt but inept and shameless, if he doesn’t reverse himself, he will be directly calling for anarchy as institutional failures have always instigated violent self help”.
He called on the State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade to “call his AG who has shamelessly mortgaged his office to order”.
When contacted, the Attorney General, Barrister Joe Abang, who initially did not take his calls but later replied a message saying that: “I dont practice law on Facebook and I wont do so now”. A statement which left this reporter wondering how Facebook got into the discussion.
14 minutes later, he sent another message which read: “as these powers been questioned except in Calabar? Well he will go to Abuja to face the LPDC you may wish to follow him there. I treat millions of files and dont get to meet the people so maybe he brought the money to me pls ask him!(sic)”.
Previous reports on the death of late Stanley Etim’s death:
Police Torture Another Detainee To Death In Calabar, Lies That He Died Of Ulcer
Calabar: Orderly Room Trial Recommends Sack Of 4 Policemen Accused Of Murder
Late Stanley Etim, Beaten To Death by Policemen Has Been Laid To Rest In Calabar