Senator Accused of Stealing From a Widow

Senator Effiong is accused of stealing from a widow

- A police source confirmed that the petition against the senator is already being looked into and that he would soon be invited

- The senator representing Akwa Ibom South is also accused of criminal conspiracy and conducts likely to cause a breach of peace

The Nigerian police may soon commence investigation into an allegation of stealing against a serving senator, Nelson Effiong, following a petition.

A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, petitioned the police alleging that Senator Effiong representing Akwa Ibom South district in the Senate committed a“criminal trespass, malicious damage to property, stealing, criminal conspiracy and conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.”

Apart from this, the senator is alleged to have stolen blocks from a widow.

In the petition addressed to the commissioner of police in Akwa Ibom state, Effiong stated that Senator Nelson Effiong had taken several criminal actions against a widow and her family and boasted that he could do whatever he likes without consequences.

The petition from Barrister Effiong reads: “Our client owns a property (land) situated at Plot 21A, Unit E, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo. Senator Nelson Effiong is the owner of a property known as Destination Night Club (previously known as Millionaires Club) situated beside our Client's property at the above address.

"Senator Effiong with his privies, assigns, staff and customers have persistently trespassed on our client's property while purporting to exercise ‘his right of access’ (which he does not have and cannot legally, morally or factually lay claim to) to his own property. A visit to the property and assessment of the other buildings located along and within the area will reveal that the purported right of access alluded to by Senator Nelson Effiong has no architectural, legal, moral or logical basis.

"The said Destination Night Club usually holds an all-night party three times every week. During the duration of the party, customers/attendees who patronize the club, many with their cars, will invade our client's property and convert same to a parking lot. They do not only park their cars, they also make our client's property an extension of the club by carrying on with their amorous, immoral and anti-social activities there despite protestations by our client."

The lawyer alleged that on July 14, 2015, Senator Effiong sent ‘his boys’ to demolish and destroy the perimeter fence erected by his client.

“We are further informed by our client that prior to this, Senator Effiong directed one of his boys to warn our client not to erect the said perimeter fence, claiming that he has unfettered right to access his property (Destination Night Club) through our client ’s land. Our Client did not take this threat seriously until his boys made real their threats by demolishing the said perimeter fence.

“As if these were not enough infractions, on the 18th of November, 2016 Senator Nelson Effiong through his boys, in his illegal bid to halt the construction of new fence by our client on their land having previously demolished the old fence, entered our client's property and forcefully took away large quantities of blocks moulded and kept by our client. Till date, the stolen blocks have neither been found nor returned,” the petition said adding that efforts by his client to dissuade the legislator from further oppression were rebuffed.

"In one of the meetings between our client and Senator Effiong which took place sometimes in the month of September 2015 at Nelson Effiong's property, Destination Night Club, Senator Effiong pointedly told the representative of the widow's family that what really angered and made him to order his boys to demolish our clients fence was that our client did not inform him before going ahead to erect the fence - on our client's land,” the petitioner added.

Though the senator could not be reached, a police source from the state confirmed that the police already has knowledge of the petition and that the commissioner was working on it.

“The senator will be invited soon since the commissioner of police is already considering the petition,” the police source, who is not in position to officially speak, said.