The National Chairman of Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has surrendered himself to police over alleged fraud linked to the party’s governorship primary in Plateau State.

Though there were trending reports that Abure was arrested last Monday by operatives from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, CITY LAWYER gathered that Abure escaped arrest when police operatives stormed his hotel in Abuja but surrendered himself after the failed attempt to arrest him.

CITY LAWYER gathered that the embattled Labour Party Chairman made a statement to the police on the criminal complaint brought against him by Yohanna Margif who accused Abure of forgery. He was granted administrative bail, a source familiar with the case told CITY LAWYER.

Margif, a governorship aspirant of the LP in the 2023 governorship election in Plateau State, alleged in the complaint that Abure forged his signature on a letter which alleged that he (Yohanna Margif) withdrew from the governorship primaries.

Earlier, Margif had noted that “I wish to state clearly that I have not in any way contemplated withdrawing from the 2023 governorship election in Plateau State and I will not withdraw from the race. I am in the contest to win the election and give Plateau people good governance that will enthrone development.”

He added that the governorship ticket of the Labour Party under his custody is not for sale and that he was in the race to win. His words: “I am not in the contest to withdraw, and the ticket of Labour Party in Plateau State is not for sale. Therefore, those who are clamouring for the ticket and misleading gullible Plateau people and Nigerians that I have withdrawn from the race should desist forthwith.”

Abure however claimed that Margif was expelled from the party following petitions against him shortly after he won the initial party primary.

“This party, as a responsible political platform, has called him severally but he declined to show up; the National Working Committee of the party has, therefore, expelled him,” said Abure.

It is recalled that Murphy Imasuen, an LP House of Representatives aspirant for Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency in the 2023 General Election in Edo State, had in a similar complaint accused Abure of forging his signature.

In yet another forgery petition against party chieftain, a former LP chairman in Ebonyi State, Splendour Oko-Eze, alleged that Abure forged his signature in a document where he (Eze) purportedly resigned as the governorship candidate of Labour Party for the 2023 elections in Ebonyi State in favour of another aspirant, Edward Nkwegu.

Following a petition to the office of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, the case was detailed to the Force Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) for investigation.

CITY LAWYER gathered that the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) which investigated the complaint by Oko-Eze has recommended that Abure  should be prosecuted.

It was gathered that Abure’s fate is now lying in the hands of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN to determine whether a criminal charge should be filed against the embattled LP Chairman.

Abure is yet to comment on the latest complaint.

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