By Jonathan Ugbal
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Obudu and presided over by J. E Agbejah has remanded one Mr. Azeh Gabriel for electoral offenses at the Medium Security Custodial Center in Ogoja after he was docked for violence and assault related to the Presidential and National Assembly election polls held on February 25, 2023.
Three charges were preferred on Mr. Gabriel, 26, popularly known as ‘Santi Cazorla’ after he led a group of boys to threaten and assault one Mr. Jarlath Adie, Court documents show.
Mr. Adie is a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP and served on its campaign council for the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwara Federal Constituency as a Coordinator while Mr. Azeh, is accused of being a hireling of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Mr. Adie had informed the Police that he was threatened with death and assaulted for “delivering his polling unit and ward” to the PDP. He was warned not to do so during the rescheduled March 18, 2023 Gubernatorial and State Assembly elections.
As at press time, CrossRiverWatch gathered that a former staff and current media aide to the Member-elect representing the aforementioned federal constituency, Mr. Ikwen Atuaka was also assaulted by Mr. Azeh and his gang, days after the presidential polls.
Mr. Atuaka told CrossRiverWatch that he has since “reported the matter with the Obudu Police Division,” and was assured that investigation was ongoing.