Delta 2023: DC-23 denies collecting bribe from aspirants

Screening Committe members of DC-23 on Friday avowed that at no time did they collect bribe from any aspirant as their assignment was carried out in good faith for the benefit of Deltans.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the 13 membership Committe via a statement asserting the allegations levelled against its members was spiteful and a deliberate attempt to rubbish their good intentions.

The statement signed by all the members avowed that: “We hereby, unequivocally, state that members of the screening committee never received any bribe in the course of the assignment. We carried out the exercise in good faith for the sake of Delta State.

“We challenge the trio to name the giver(s) of the bribe(s), the amount paid as well as those who received and provide evidence.

“A few others have also made similar claims. The persons alleging should show proof.

“If these unwarranted attacks and campaign of calumny continue, members of the Screening Committee will be constrained to seek legal redress by way of an action in defamation against the authors of such falsehoods.

“We call on the general public and all Deltans to disregard the antics of those whose preferred aspirants didn’t make the shortlist of three.

“As for the aspirants who couldn’t make the list of the last three, we appeal to them to take the outcome in good faith. They willingly submitted themselves to the exercise and went through the mill. They also issued a memorandum of understanding unequivocally stating that they will accept the outcome of the pruning exercise and in the end support whoever emerges. This is the way to go

Read full text below:

DC-23 COMMITTEE MEMBERS WERE NEVER BRIBED

“We, members of the DC-23 Screening Committee, have observed with dismay a smear campaign that is being orchestrated to tarnish our image, impugn our character and call to question the integrity and validity of the report that we recently submitted to the leadership of the DC-23.

“One of such ill-conceived attempts is the spurious and subversive letter written to His Excellency, Senator Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, and signed by the trio of Dr. Adogbeji Ideh, Chief P. A, Akaighe and Chief Eddie Ono-Sorhue, wherein they not only called to question the integrity of the report, but also alleged that committee members were bribed to skew the report in favour of the three aspirants that were recommended.

“We hereby, unequivocally, state that members of the screening committee never received any bribe in the course of the assignment. We carried out the exercise in good faith for the sake of Delta State.

“We challenge the trio to name the giver(s) of the bribe(s), the amount paid as well as those who received and provide evidence. A few others have also made similar claims. The persons alleging should show proof.
If these unwarranted attacks and campaign of calumny continue, members of the Screening Committee will be constrained to seek legal redress by way of an action in defamation against the authors of such falsehoods.

“We call on the general public and all Deltans to disregard the antics of those whose preferred aspirants didn’t make the shortlist of three.

“As for the aspirants who couldn’t make the list of the last three, we appeal to them to take the outcome in good faith. They willingly submitted themselves to the exercise and went through the mill. They also issued a memorandum of understanding unequivocally stating that they will accept the outcome of the pruning exercise and in the end support whoever emerges. This is the way to go.
Thank you.
Membership
Professor Nyerhovwo Tonukari -Chairman
Rev Fr. Christopher Ekabo – Member
Chief Arthur Akpowowo – Member
Hon. Felix Anirah – Member
Mr. Tony Omonemu – Member
Barr Anthony Akpomiemie – Member
Chief Andy Osawata – Member
Deacon Raymond Edijala – Member
Dr. Godfrey Enita – Member
Dr. (Mrs) Augustina Erah – Member
Deaconess Florence Jakpovi – Member
Mrs. Rarute Mgbeke – Member
Professor Sunny Awhefeada – Secretary