Allegations of criminal charges facing the chairmanship candidate of IPAC

The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Electoral Committee Chairman, Barr Dan Nwanyanwu, has raised concerns regarding the criminal charges at the Federal High Court, Lokoja, faced by a prominent candidate running for the position of the National Chairman of IPAC, Alhaji Yusuf Mamman Dantalle.

Barr Nwanyanwu disclosed that investigations have revealed that Dantalle was taken to the Federal High Court in Lokoja by the State Security Services (SSS) in October 2021. The allegations against Dantalle relate to the possession of dangerous weapons in Ayingba, Kogi State the previous year and the case is currently pending before the Federal High Court in Lokoja.

Despite the pending criminal charges, Dantalle is actively participating in the IPAC national chairmanship race, competing against Engr Yabagi Yusuf Sani, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP).

It remains uncertain whether Dantalle will be cleared by the IPAC electoral committee for participation.

Nwanyanwu, speaking over the phone, emphasized that he lacks the authority to comment on this matter. His role is focused on overseeing a fair and peaceful election, stating, “As an umpire in the election, it is not my duty to determine who is qualified to contest and who is not qualified to contest. I am an umpire in the forthcoming election of IPAC and my duty is to conduct election and not to take position on who is to contest and who is not to contest.”

The statement of offence, prepared and signed by Mr. Olanrewaju Yahaya, the Principal Legal Officer in charge of Discipline and Legal Services at the State Security Service in Kogi State, outlines the charges against Dantalle in the case marked LKJ/FHC/61/21. The allegations include the possession of an unlicensed Barreta Pistol with serial number 215RR95042 and nine live rounds of ammunition without a license, both occurring in October 2021 in Anyigba, Dekinn Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Dantalle was reported to have committed these offences with an accomplice, Abdul Oye, who is currently at large.

When reached for comment, Dantalle acknowledged that the case is ongoing, yet stressed that he is deemed innocent until proven guilty, emphasizing that he has not been found guilty by the court.