A 2023 governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Akan Okon has escaped a kidnapping and assassination attempt allegedly sponsored by the state government.

Mr Okon, a former commissioner under Governor Udom Emmanuel, had dragged the governor’s preferred successor, Mr Umo Eno to court over allegations that Eno was parading forged WAEC certificates in his bid to actualise his governorship ambition.

It is reported that a squad of heavily armed unknown gunmen with anti-robbery vehicles surrounded Mr Okon’s Uyo residence in the early hours of Wednesday under the orders of Governor Emmanuel.

Sources say that the gunmen who shot sporadically in the air while at the residence, claimed that they came to take Akan Okon with “order from above.”

“They came with anti-robbery branded trucks and other trucks with soldiers. The trucks that carried the soldiers had the number plate of Akwa Ibom State Government and they among those that usually accompany the governor’s convoy.”

“They said they had orders from above to come and take Akan Okon,” the source said.

It is gathered that the attempt on Akan Okon is connected to the petition for review at the Supreme Court

It could be recalled that after Supreme Court’s earlier ruling that affirmed the judgement of the Appeal Court which had dismissed Akon Okon’s appeal, Okon filed a motion alleging that the judgement of Appeal Court was delivered without the petition’s exhibits.

“Judgment was delivered by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division in this Appeal on the 19th day of January 2023.

“As at the date of the delivery of judgment by the Court of Appeal in this Appeal, the exhibits pronounced upon by the Court of Appeal in its judgment were not before the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, for evaluation.

“The exhibits relied upon by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division to arrive at its judgment on the 19th day of January 2023 were not before the Court of Appeal Abuja Division as provided by Order 7 Rule 2 (d) of the Supreme Court Rules,” Okon had told the Supreme Court.

In a swift response to Okon’s petition, the Supreme Court indicated that it would give a fresh judgement on the case after reviewing the evidence.

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