Alleged siege on Oshiomhole: Police hunt for Obaseki’s aides, others

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By Osagie Otabor, Benin

Deputy Edo Governor Hon Philip Shaibu on Sunday night spent over four hours at the Edo Police headquarters waiting to secure release of Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Security, Mr. Andrew Momodu, who was to be whisked to Abuja on Monday.

Momodu was arrested at about 9pm on Sunday night by policemen from Abuja following an alleged petition that he was among those that stoned the Benin City residence of National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

The Edo Deputy Governor had vowed to sleep outside the police headquarters if Momodu was not released to him. Others on the list to be picked up for questioning are Special Adviser to Obaseki on Political Matters (Edo South) Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha; head of Obaseki’s Public Works Volunteer (PUWOV) Mr. Murtari Osagie; Mr. Albert Obazee, Mr. Kelly Okungbowa and Augustine Edosomwan.

After waiting for over four hours, the Abuja police team released Momodu on grounds that Shaibu would make them available for questioning in Abuja on Wednesday.Speaking to newsmen after he was released, Momodu said he was harrased and locked up inside the cell.

Momodu stated that he was arrested in a gestapo style while going home from his business premises along Airport road in Benin City.According to him: “I left my church programme and went to my business place along Airport road.“After taking stock of sales, I decided to go home.

As I was going home, I saw some persons jumped down from Hilux van.“They said they were policemen and I told them to calm down. I demanded for their identity card and they showed it to me. This was around 9am.“One of them came behind me and kicked me. They said they would lift me up. There were other civillians inside the hilux.“When I got inside their vehicle, they said they were taking me somewhere. I asked where, one of them said Police headquarters.“When we got there, one of them said they should tie my hand and my leg.

The other one said they should handcuff me. I told I was not going to run away from their cell.“They brought out a detention order where I saw they wrote conspiracy and attempted murder.“They made some calls and they were ordered that I should be detain. I was kept insidè the cell.“My wife had to cry out before my people were able to trace me. They said I recruited youths. They never showed me any petition.“I asked them what was my offence, they said a petition can come in oral or written form.

They said part of allegations raised against me was that I am a cultist.“I told I have never been a member of any secret cult. They said I am recruiting people with a view to initiating them into cultism. I told them it was not true.“They said I am harassing people and attacking them in Benin and in Etsako.“They never showed me any petition. they said what they asked me is part of the allegation raised against me.

They said I possessed firearms.“This morning, I got a call from one Kabuebue, he said I should find something for them that they are hungry.“This evening, I received a call from him and he asked me where I was, I told him I was in my petrol station. It was not up to five minutes that police arrived.

I am sure he was among the boys in the HiluxOn his part, the Deputy Governor said Nigeria has a responsible and intellectual Inspector General of Police ready to change the face of the Nigerian Police.“We discovered that some persons were up to something. We will investigate and get to the bottom of this.“We were elected on the basis of protectihg lives and properties which is enshrined in the constituion.“Not even an appointee can be arrested without our knowledge.

We will follow up to know what the issues are.“The Governor promised there must be law and order. We are on the same page with the police when it comes to protecting lives and ensuring law and order. It is our duty to be free.“No one man can dictate our destiny. We are moving the destiny of Edo to the next level. Six of them have been invited.“The names I am seeing there are not criminals. There is nothing to worry about.”

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