Former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party who was recently dislodged by the Supreme Court, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has described the claim of granting him and his supporters amnesty as a reckless statement.

He said that amnesty is a word used to express pardon for offenders and that he, having committed no offence, deserved nothing of such.

Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Working Committee spokesman, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, had while briefing newsmen in the aftermath of the apex court’s judgment that reinstated Makarfi as PDP chairman, said that the party was granting Sheriff and his supporters amnesty.

But reacting in a statement signed by his spokesman, Bernard Mikko, Sheriff frowned at the claim of granting him amnesty.

He said, “I take exception to the reckless statement credited to Prince Dayo Adeyeye suggesting the grant of amnesty to Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, his National Working Committee and supporters. Amnesty is a reprieve for those who have committed offence under our statutes. We did not occupy the office illegally or commit any offence.

“Senator Ali Modu Sheriff was validly elected and was forced to vacate the National Secretariat after a joint meeting of the contending camps with the Inspector-General of Police in the wake of thuggery attack in the heat of conflicting court pronouncements.

“However, the office was officially re-opened for us after we presented the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgement of Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt division to the Inspector General of Police. I am therefore concerned about the future of our party in the hands of some of those who are known to have pending criminal cases bordering on fraud, treasury looting and dishonesty with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Supreme Court of Nigeria is the highest court in our land and we await the copy of the full judgement delivered on July 12, 2017.

“No one owns the party and those making unguarded and reckless statements in the public domain should realise that the solution to the problem of Nigeria is beyond any political association. Unacceptable and unjustifiable means cannot lead to a justifiable and acceptable end,” the statement reads.”

Sheriff, whose position was validated by a Port Harcourt Court of Appeal judgement as the PDP’s chairman, was on Wednesday sacked by a unanimous decision of a panel of five justices of the Supreme Court.

By Ebere Ndukwu …

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