A magistrate court in Wuse, Zone 6, Abuja has convicted Victor Mela, a member of the house of representatives, for giving false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enable him to contest the 2019 election.
The presiding judge has, however, set a different date for the sentence of the lawmaker after his lawyer took the plea of allocutus — a plea for mercy concerning the court judgment.
INEC had declared Mela, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the house of representatives election (Billiri/Balanga federal constituency) which held in February 2019.
Although Ali Isa, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, had challenged Mela’s victory in the election, the national assembly election petition tribunal and the court of appeal, Jos division, declared the APC candidate as the duly elected representative of Billiri/Balanga federal constituency.
But reacting to the development in a tweet yesterday, Mela said he would immediately file an appeal against the court’s decision, adding that he would continue to keep his legislative seat and discharge his duties.
He stated, “I would like to call on our friends, supporters and our sympathisers to remain calm as well as rest assured that I will challenge today’s perverse decision at the appellate court, immediately
“In the same light, I will continue to discharge the functions of my office as the legislator representing the good people of Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency, Gombe State.
“The House of Representatives seat which I occupy today as a result of your trust and belief in me remains intact. Together we shall prevail! Thank you all!”
