Pascal Arogorn Ibe
Gombe Lawmaker representing Billiri/Balanga federal constituency in the house of representatives, Victor Mela , says he is not in jail as widely reported on some online news platforms . Mela was sentenced to one- month imprisonment for lying under oath with an option of a N 30, 000 fine , which he said he met successfully .
Mela in a press statement signed by his media aide , Ibrahim Tal , on Saturday , said he does not have a British passport neither was he imprisoned or detained at any point in time during and after the trial.
The statement partly stated, “ I had been briefed about happenings surrounding the alleged false declaration case filed against me at the instance of Hon. Ali Isa JC, who had earlier instituted 5 court cases against me since his overwhelming defeat by my humble self at the 2019 National Assembly elections .
“ Yesterday ( Friday) , the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Zone 6, Abuja finally dispensed of the matter with sentencing . I was given an option of a fine ; a condition which I satisfied immediately.
“ However , I would like to draw your attention to the false and malicious publications currently circulating on the internet via some online social media platforms .
“ In the same vein , I have read with utmost dismay some misleading and misguided headlines that I was purportedly sentenced to imprisonment at a Correctional Center here in the FCT. This information is a grave misrepresentation of the sentence passed yesterday by the Court .
“ While some of the above-mentioned outfits reported that I had earlier deposed to 3 conflicting affidavits pertaining to my citizenship status and that I hold a British passport , others said that I have been imprisoned.
“ Let me clearly state here that , I do not have a British passport and neither was I imprisoned nor detained at any point in time during and after the trial.
“ These are all lies concocted and fabricated by my desperate opponent to discredit me ; I urge you to totally discountenance as well as disregard any such false publication( s ) .
“ As at the end of working hours on Friday, Nov . 27, 2020, Certified
True Copies ( CTC) of the Judgement and Sentence of the Court had not been issued to anyone, I inclusive, as a result of which the source of the news circulating on some social media platforms remains inexplicable.
“ As always and even at the moment , I am free and carrying out my legislative duties for the good people my Constituency, my state, and the nation as a whole . ”
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