By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo.
Determined to defend the integrity of the former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, a group of lawyers in the state have warned against continued media attacks on him, threatening to sue perpetrators.
Under the aegis of Akwa Ibom North West Senatorial District Lawyers Coalition, the group who condemned what they called “frivolous petitions and media attacks” against the persons of the former governor, now the senate minority leader, said that they would mobilize pro-bono legal resources to defend him.
They made their position known at a press conference at Abak in Abak local government area of the state, stressing that the former governor while in office had contributed significantly to the development of the state. The feats, they argued should earn him respect.
Speaking through their coordinator, Barrister Patrick Umoh, the lawyers said, “It is disheartening and unnervingly difficult to imagine the rate at which people have attempted to destroy the records of this man of honour. Our people resort to cheap blackmail in very desperate attempts to gain cheap popularity. The truth about the legendary leadership of Godswill Akpabio has been severely and severally twisted.”
They added, “We have taken steps to verify the veracity of such information and we wish to express our strong condemnation on these publications as these are false and calculated to undermine the person of the Senate Minority Leader.”
According to the coalition, Senator Akpabio has been “unduly vilified and demonised” for no just cause adding that those attacking the former governor “fed fat during the last administration.”
So, “We have resolved to rise in defence of a man of honour whose identity as a lawyer remains unassailable. We hereby undertake pro bono to explore legal resources and avenues available against any person or persons, group of persons; organisation(s) or their privies that delight in attacking the image of our representative at the Nigerian Senate,” they positioned.
