Honorable Member Representing Billiri/Balanga Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Victor Mela , says he is not in jail or any correctional centre.
Hon. Victor Mela was reacting to reports that circulated on Friday that he has been sentenced to a correctional centre in Abuja by a Chief Magistrate Court zone 6, Abuja.
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In a press statement, he made available to newsmen in Gombe, Mr Mela, though confirmed his sentence with an option of fine, but add that he had immediately satisfied the conditions and now working freely.
He said, “Yesterday, the Chief Magistrates’ Court in Zone 6, Abuja finally dispensed of the matter with sentencing. I was given an option of fine; a condition which I satisfied immediately”.
He attributed the false stories going round to the activities of his opponents who are bent on fabricating falsehood to discredit his person.
He said, “These are all lies concocted and fabricated by my desperate opponent to discredit me; I urge you to totally discountenance as well as disregard any such false publications”.
He explained that, “you may recall that about two (2) weeks ago I briefed you through this medium about happenings surrounding the alleged false declaration case filed against me at the instance of Hon. Ali Isa JC, who had earlier instituted 5 court cases against me since his overwhelming defeat by my humble self at 2019 National Assembly Elections”.
The statement reads further: “However, I would like to draw your attention to the false and malicious publications currently circulating on the internet via some online social media platforms.
“In the same vein, I have read with utmost dismay some misleading and misguided headlines that I was purportedly sentenced to imprisonment at a Correctional Center in the FCT.
“This (mis)information is a grave misrepresentation of the sentence passed yesterday by the Court.
“While some of the above-mentioned outfits reported that I had earlier deposed to three conflicting affidavits pertaining to my citizenship status and that I hold a British passport, others said that I have been imprisoned.
“Let me clearly state here that I do not have a British passport and neither was I imprisoned nor detained at any point in time during and after the trial.”
He described the publications as lies concocted and fabricated by desperate opponent to discredit him and urged the public to totally discountenance as well as disregard any such false publications.
He also explained that as at the end of working hours on Friday 27 2020, Certified True Copies (CTC) of the Judgement and Sentence of the Court had not being issued to anyone, stressing, “I inclusive, as a result of which the source of the news circulating on some social media platforms remains inexplicable”.
He said, “As always and even at the moment, I am free and carrying out my legislative duties for the good people of my Constituency, my State and the nation as a whole.
“While I have already authorised the filing of an appeal against the Judgement of the Magistrate Court, I call for calm and urge my supporters, sympathizers and everyone to believe in the judiciary and the respect of rule of law as well as the judicial process entirely.
“In due course, hopefully we will collectively succeed on appeal,” he stated.