There are strong indications that the Ministry of Justice will arraign the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, on forgery charges next week.
Abure has been in the eye of the storm after National Treasurer of the Party, Oluchi Oparah claimed that Abure had forged signatures and failed to account for 3.5bn received as form fees and donations before the 2023 elections.
Also, former Acting Chairperson of the Party, Maria Labeke recently claimed that Abure harassed her into vacating her position so he could take over.
She also claimed that Abure forged her signature to take over the bank accounts of the Party as she did not sign the change of signature.
The source who pleaded anonymity however told VeonewsNG that Abure’s possible arraignment was premised on a protracted police investigation into how he substituted the name of the party’s guber flagbearer in Ebonyi, Eze Oko in a fraudulent manner.
According to petitioners, Abure received 200 million naira from a rival candidate, Architect Edward Nkwegu to replace Oko against his knowledge. This was corroborated by Nkwegu’s confession upon interrogation.
It was gathered that Abure deliberately evaded several summons over 6 months through proxies before finally being apprehended in June 2023 while oddly attempting to seek refuge at DSS headquarters.
The source said Abure had allegedly bribed and was still attempting to bribe other senior police officials and justice ministry officials with millions to bury the case.
However, sources familiar with the matter said the Ministry of Justice was determined to reopen the case and prosecute Abure for forgery, perjury and conspiracy.
FLASHBACK: MINISTRY OF JUSTICE TO PROSECUTE ABURE FOR ROLE IN SUBSTITUTION OF CANDIDATES IN PLATEAU, ENUGU
Also, it was gathered that part of the forgery charges would be premised on the controversy around the substitution of former Plateau State governorship candidate Yohanna Margif with Patrick Dakum.
Margif had challenged the emergence of replacement candidate Dakum in court, insisting he won the initial primaries and never withdrew voluntarily. But Labour Party claimed Margif signed a letter copied to INEC withdrawing his candidacy.
While Federal High Court affirmed Dakum as the legitimate candidate in December 2022 and the case quashed at the apex Court, Margif has fought back with evidence the withdrawal letter was falsified.
Nigeria’s High Court registrar denies the letter originated from their courts, revealing no commissioner of oath name or revenue stamp as required for sworn affidavits.
This seeming verification of forgery allegations backs similar charges Abure already faces over a candidate substitution scandal in Enugu State where Ernest Ugwu accused the leadership of Labour Party of forging his withdrawal document and affidavit in other to impose Okey Ezea as Candidate of the Enugu North senatorial district.
