Tuesday 5 September 2017

PDP insists Edo ex-Speaker must face trial


The People’s Democratic Party has insisted that a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Elisabeth Ativie, must be made to face trial if it was discovered that she contravened Section 10 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Matters Commission (ICPC) Act.

It said the issue was no longer whether Hon Ativie is made to return the four official vehicles she used as Speaker but whether it was lawful for her to receive gratification for performing a duty for which she was duly elected.


After weeks of hesitation, Hon Ativie has agreed to return the vehicles following the intervention of party leaders in her Uhunmwode constituency.

Ativie had alleged that the four vehicles, one Toyota prado jeep, one Lexus jeep 2016 model and two Hilux vans were given to her by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole for the sacrifices she made for stepping down as Speaker.

She said she has sold one of the after registering them in her name.

But Comrade Oshiomhole denied asking Ativie to convert the vehicles for her personnel use and called on the state government to prosecute for stealing.

A statement signed by state Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Chris Nehikhare, said the intervention by APC leaders and explanations of Oshiomhole were dangerously unacceptable.

Nehikhare stated that the party will still seek an order of Mandamus to compel the arrest, investigation and prosecution of Oshiomhole and Ativie for their role in the purported sale of government vehicles and property.

According to the statement, the PDP wants to establish if Adams Oshiomhole as governor had the power to gift government property to Hon. Ativie or anyone else for that matter.

“That Adams Oshiomhole by gifting out the government vehicles in the circumstances which he said he did, was offering a bribe to a government official?

“We want to state that Edo PDP is doing this in the interest of Edo people and its assets. A legal resolution of this issue will be a check on the conduct and behaviour of future governors and elected officers of the State and Nigeria at large.

“A governor must know the limits of his powers and how to exercise them. He must know that deceit and bribery are not acceptable.”

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