AGF designate’s presence in Court over LP, Otti, case intimidating – PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State is upset that Lateef Fagbemi, the nominee for Attorney General of the Federation, will be attending the tribunal hearing in Umuahia about the state’s governorship election.

In a statement released by Abraham Amah, Vice Chairman of the opposition party in Abia North, the party claimed that Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, who has been approved by the Senate, is on the legal team of Governor Alex Otti.

A petition was filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Okey Ahiwe, challenging the declaration of Alex Otti as the winner of the Abia 2023 governorship election. Prior to his nomination as the AGF, the PDP in Abia claimed that Fagbemi had served as lead counsel for Otti and the Labour Party.

“Mr. Fagbemi’s presence in court yesterday was inconsiderate, and as a senior lawyer, he ought to have known that having been nominated, screened, and designated as the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, he should no longer show up in court for cases in which he has private interests, such as the case involving Alex Otti and the Labor Party.

His appearance at the tribunal yesterday as a personal lawyer to a private claimant raises serious concerns about his comprehension of the gravity of the position he is to assume and the importance of the matters at stake.

The opposition party in Abia State claimed that the Labour Party in power was using “panic measures” and “unnecessary obstructive motions” to put off the “pronunciation of justice.”

The new Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has been criticized by the Abia PDP for being biased.

But in response to PDP’s concern, Kalu Udensi, a leading Labour Party official from Ohafia, stated that the umbrella party was expecting to lose the tribunal case and was therefore trying to save face by sounding a false alarm.

He cautioned the PDP from pressuring Lateef Fagbemi, the nominee for Attorney General.