Caleb Mutfwang, the governor of Plateau State, dismissed accusations made on Friday that certain judges had accepted a bribe of $5 million in exchange for forcing him out of office as baseless and slanderous.
Remember that on Thursday, media reports (Not PUNCH) accused former Plateau State Governor and Minister of Labor and Employment Simon Lalong of donating $5 million to three Appeal Court justices, namely Justices Elfrieda Williams-Dawodu, Akams, and Waziri, in order to remove PDP Governor Mutfwang from office and declare All Progressives Congress Candidate Nentawe Yiltwatda the victor of the Plateau State 2023 governorship election.
According to the social media post, Lalong was instructed to present the bribe to the judges by National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, who met with Lalong on Thursday following a lawyers’ meeting in Abuja.
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Governor Mutwang, however, disassociated himself from the story and denounced its publication in a statement on Friday.
“Plateau State Governor, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, has strongly condemned the baseless and defamatory allegations circulated by certain individuals, accusing judges of receiving a $5 million bribe for the nullification of his victory,” read the statement, which was signed by Mutwang’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere.
Governor Mutfwang strongly denounced the publication and said that it was the result of his opponents’ calculated attempts to create a rift between him and the respected judges and other established institutions.
Governor Mutfwang expressed his extreme concern over the situation and asked that security authorities conduct in-depth investigations to find and detain the people behind the defamatory publication.
“He (Governor Mutfwang) emphasized that in order to create a precedent that deters such misbehavior, it is imperative that these persons face the full repercussions of the law.
“Governor Mutfwang categorically disassociated himself from the false narrative, calling it nothing more than lies concocted by people using the opposition party in Plateau State as pawns.
The governor stated that he remains committed to and confident in the judiciary and that the recent action is an attempt to damage the reputation of the PDP Government in the state.
The statement also stated that Governor Mutfwang “reaffirmed his unwavering support for the judiciary and warned those who are disparaging the justices and respected leaders to desist from their destructive activities immediately or face the severe consequences of their actions.”