Damion Dodo's Bribery Scandal Using False Cover of Legal Services, Deltans on Alert Over 30BN

Damion Dodo's Bribery Scandal Using False Cover of Legal Services, Deltans on Alert Over 30BN

Damian Dodo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who was interrogated by agents of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) some time ago, was recently mentioned on social media in connection with 'N30-billion Naira Vote bribe from Delta State'.

Though not confirmed, it was alleged in (http://delta1newswatch.blogspot.com) on social media online platform that; some persons in the Nigerian Judiciary who are connected to the 2023 election petition tribunal are being bribed by some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaders in Delta state, and Damian Dodo is the middleman and agent whose law firm was used for a deal that was alleged to be '30 Billion Naira vote bribe money of Delta state.

The platform reported that the lawyer was responsible for offering bribes for favourable judgements mostly in electoral and political matters to purchase judgment for politicians. This however has left some Deltans to suspect that Damian Dodo, SAN is on a deal or some paid mission to arrange for a favourable judgement for the Delta State 2023 Governorship Candidate, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori in the upcoming electoral tribunal.

Putting into consideration that a bribery allegation was some time ago levelled against the lawyer who a politician, a former Governorship Aspirant of PDP in Taraba State.

Though this medium does not in any way endorse the 30 billion Naira bribe accusations to be true. However, as custodians of the public trust, it could authoritatively state that the people of Delta state will not sleep off and ignore any attempt to sway the Judiciary with 'Greek gifts', they are keenly interested in the real Judgment that is not influenced.

Though it is difficult to dismiss that there are worries that Dodo would be a middleman, between the Judges and those being dragged to court or Election Petition Tribunals for electoral offences and malpractices in the Just concluded 2023 elections.

The same worry or fear may have pushed some group of persons who styled themselves as Delta Must save' to develop a watchful eye on the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Damian Dodo and Hon. Justice Kanyip of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria who was alleged to be a brother In-law to Damian Dodo.

The group feared that he might take advantage of the perceived corruption in the judiciary to purchase judgment that might favour the corrupt politician who is the highest bidder. They felt that Damian Dodo is in the business of buying and selling judgement.

While the people's perception could not be controlled, records of Dodo revealed that he was not free from accusations, especially the notorious Halliburton scam.

It could be recalled that; The EFCC in 2016 reported that investigations into the notorious Halliburton scam and that Mr Dodo’s questioning is connected to the probe.

According to them, "Sources close to the investigation disclosed that Mr Dodo was questioned for his role in the alleged $26 million bribery of a former minister and five other Nigerian lawyers.

The former minister involved is said to be former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Muhammed Adoke.

The EFCC alleges that Mr Dodo received $4.5 million through his legal firm, DD Dodo and Co., from multinational companies connected to the Halliburton bribery scandal using the false cover of legal services".

This medium is of the position that; the Judiciary and those around it must always preserve its definition of being the last hope of the common man and as such, equal access to Justice and equity should be the rights of citizens.

Judgements should be handed down by the dictates of the law and facts presented to the Court, Election tribunals should not be used to make money.