Akwa Ibom lawmaker, Enyong, Faces Disqualification Over Fraud Allegation

The embattled member representing Uyo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Michael Okon Enyong, risks being disqualified from seeking re-election over failure to disclose his alleged past criminal records and convictions in his affidavit filed in support of his personal particulars seeking election to the lower chamber of the National Assembly.

Certified True copies of the case information from Fort Bend County, Texas, United States of America, showed clearly that Enyong had pleaded guilty to a case of theft and accordingly sentenced.

He however failed to disclose this in the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC form he swore to on oath.

It was averred that Enyong had knowingly concealed the fact of his conviction from his constituents to circumvent the law.

His alleged conviction occurred less than 10 years to the time he sought for and got elected into the Federal House of Representatives.

In Suit No: CV/1017/19 filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, his challenger Ekerete Ekpenyong is seeking the disqualification of Enyong on the grounds of being an ex-convict and that he lied on oath having been sentenced in a criminal case of theft which he had been charged and pleaded guilty by a court in Fort Bend County, Texas, USA.

The Claimant is seeking a declaration that Enyong is not qualified to contest the 2019 election into the House of Representatives having circumvented the law by lying on oath and failing to disclose his past criminal records and convictions.

Ekpenyong is also seeking a declaration of the Court declaring vacant the Federal House of Representatives representing Uyo/Uruan/Nsit Atai/Ibesikpo Asutan Federal Constituency currently being occupied by Enyong and also an order directing the INEC to withdraw the certificate of return issued to Enyong  in 2015, and withdraw his candidature for the 2019 elections.

The claimant is also seeking an order of the court directing that Enyong immediately after delivery of judgment in the suit repay back to the coffers of the Federal Government of Nigeria all salaries and allowances he has received as a Member of the House of Representatives between 2015 to 2019.

Enyong also committed perjury by lying on oath about his age and academic qualifications.

In an information he provided on his Form CF001 he gave his date of birth as 31 August 1969 supported by his affidavit sworn to at the High Court Registry, Abuja dated 15th August 2018, when indeed, he was born on December 25, 1961.

The lawmaker also claimed that he has a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Warren National University without any record of having done a Masters Degree anywhere having acquired a Bachelor of Science degree, Second Class in Applied Chemistry from the University of Uyo in 1999.

Some legal analysts have said the case against Enyong is watertight and PDP in Uyo Federal Constituency may be without a candidate in the forthcoming National Assembly elections if the Court upholds the arguments of the Claimant to disqualify Enyong on the grounds of being an ex-convict and that he lied on oath having been sentenced in a criminal case of theft which he had been charged and pleaded guilty to by a court in Fort Bend County, Texas, USA.

Additionally, the contradictions in his birth certificates and sworn affidavits and his questionable educational qualifications may further lead to his disqualification.