Senate Presidency: News of Yari’s Imminent Arrest Excites Akpabio’s Supporters

Sunday Aborisade in Abuja 

Barely 24 hours to the election of the presiding officers of the National Assembly, supporters of former Akwa-Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio, have started celebrating over a fast-circulating rumour that an aspirant for the position of Senate President, Abdulaziz Yari, would soon be arrested by security agents and whisked away from Abuja before Tuesday morning. 

The former Zamafara State governor, favoured by over 60 per cent of the senators-elect, has successfully sold his agenda to his supporters and has attracted massive support.

The development had put the Akpabio’s camp and some influential powers on edge.

On Saturday, Akpabio and his stability group convened a meeting aimed at displaying his popularity but became disappointed by the attendance recorded at the meeting. 

Also shocked by the poor attendance, Vice-President Shettima Kashim said he would embark on a serious campaign aimed at poaching some senators-elect from the camp of Yari.

But as the hour of election draws closer and no senators-elect has agreed to leave the camp of Yari, desperation set in within the camp of Akpabio resulting in revelations from the camp that pressure will be mounted on security agents including the Directorate of Security Services (DSS), the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissiom (EFCC) to do everything possible to prevent Yari and many of his key supporters from accessing the National Assembly on Tuesday. 

The desperation, it was learnt, is resulting into a complete breach of an existing court order which had restrained the security agents from arresting Yari.

Specifically, a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo had barred the EFCC,  Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and DSS from detaining Yari until June 27, 2023 when they should appear to show cause.

Last Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja extended the order restraining the EFCC, ICPC and DSS from detaining Yari.

Justice Okorowo extended the order on Thursday after Yari’s counsel, Michael Aondoaka (SAN), made an oral application to the effect.

The development occurred following a plea for an adjournment moved by the lawyer to the EFCC, Gloria Ogbason and her counterpart representing the ICPC, Kemi Odogun, to enable them file their responses to Yari’s motion.

Upon the resumed hearing in the matter, Aondoaka informed the court that all the respondents had been served as directed by the court.

Aondoaka’s application was for an extension of the order.

Justice Okorowo, who adjourned the matter until June 27, barred the EFCC, ICPC and DSS from detaining Yari until they appear to show cause in the next adjourned date.