Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowo, was fingered in the report, of giving N3 billion to Justice Umukoro, who in turn, met with two of the three members of the tribunal handling governorship, House of Assembly and National Assembly elections petitions in the state.
The report by Sahara Reporters, quotes a judicial source and a security agent, as confirming the allegations.
Governor Okowa, PDP officials, and the Speaker of the state, Monday Igbuya, were said to have reached out to Justice Umukoro to serve as a buffer, for them to induce the tribunal members, so as to secure favourable rulings for the PDP.
Consequently, Justice Umukoro reportedly invited the election petitions tribunal judges as his weekend guests in Port Harcourt, where he allegedly shared between the judges, the N3 billion provided by Okowa.
While two of the three judges heeded the invitation, Chairman of the tribunal Justice Nasiru Gunmi, was said to have declined.
A senior official in the Delta State judiciary was quoted to have confirmed that the tribunal members, after receiving the bribe, promised to deliver judgments favourable to all the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.
Meanwhile, a senior lawyer in the defence team of Governor Okowa lost $200,000 (N44.6 million) in a popular hotel in Asaba, Delta state capital.
Delta State Commissioner of Police, Baba Alkali Usman, reportedly confirmed that the $100,000 was stolen.
The money was stolen from Chalet 111 in the hotel, where one of the lawyers resided.
Four suspects were arrested and detained by the police over the disappearance of the money.
Commissioner Usman would also reveal that Police could not fully investigate the theft because the lawyer refused to lodge a formal complaint.
The lead lawyers in the defence team are: Dr. Alex Izinyon (SAN) representing Okowa (the first respondent); Mr. A.T. Kehinde (SAN) for the PDP and Damien Dodo (SAN) for the third respondent (INEC).
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