With barely four months to the governorship elections in Kogi State, there seems to be more trouble brewing for the seemingly most popular candidate in the November 11 polls, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka.
Murtala Yakubu Ajaka emerged as the candidate of the Social Democratic party, SDP, on April 29, 2023, after he was disqualified by his former party, the All Progressives Congress, APC.
However, before his adoption and eventual emergence as the SDP candidate, Dr. Mohammed Shaibu Tettes was the flag bearer of the Party, but in a desperate race against time and the deadline of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Muritala Ajaka had to approach Dr. Mohammed Shaibu Tettes, for a swap.
The Kogi East Elders Forum had adopted Muritala Ajaka as their preferred candidate at in event in June, in Abuja. However, This was greeted with rejection from some aggrieved candidates from Kogi East, who did not quite support the elders’ decision.
The deal was agreed upon for a paltry amount of 10, million naira, to be paid to Dr Mohammed.
However, after waiting for the agreed date, Muritala failed to pay up the agreed amount but rather issued a cheque. Muritala Ajaka had issued the cheque three weeks ago, to be cashed on Monday, July 17, 2023, but on presentation at the bank on Monday the 17th, it bounced.
It was gathered that when Dr. Mohammed Shaibu Tettes approached the bank to cash the cheque, it turned out that it was a dud cheque, as the bank informed Dr. Mohammed that the account belonging to Muritala Ajaka was not funded.
Speaking in an interview in Abuja, Dr Mohammed Shaibu Tettes, who confirmed the development said up till the time of filing this report, Hon. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka had not reached out to him for any truce.
According to the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) as amended, it is an offence, punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment of up to five (5) years for any person to issue a dud cheque.
Banks, Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs), and the Public are reminded of these under section 313(A). Furthermore, the dishonored cheques offences act of 1977 Describes the offering of a dud cheque as an offence.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohammed Shaibu Tettes has approached the court, filed a case of fraud against Muritala Ajaka, and has refused to withdraw the case, in spite of pleas from well-meaning individuals from Kogi East.
Both Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and Dr. Mohammed Shaibu Tettes are from the Kogi East senatorial district of the State.
These latest developments may further complicate issues for the already embattled candidate of the SDP in the November election as this doesn’t just put a dent in his credibility, but also in his integrity as the most preferred candidate.
