By Vivian Okejeme Abuja
The eighteen Ondo state aggrieved lawmakers, have petitioned the Inspector -General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris, over the alleged assault meted on them on the floor of the House on November 9th.
The lawmakers who accused the Commissioner of Police in the state of complicity, called on the IGP to take over the investigation of the alleged assault.
The letter filed by their counsel, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, dated November 27 reads in part, “We are Solicitors to Hon Olamide Abayomi George, Hon. Malachi Coker, Hon. Abimbola Olutope Fajolu, Hon. Jumoke Akindele, Hon. Arowele Ayodeji Samuel, Hon. Fatai Olotu, Hon. Ajimotokin Olusegun Phillip, Hon. Akindiose Olusiji, Hon. Sola Ebiwonjunmi, Hon. Ade Adeniyi, Hon. Tunji Akintimehin, Hon. Obadiah Vincent, Hon. Akinsoyinu Ifedayo Olugbenga, Hon. Akinyele Michael Fasogbon, Hon. Mukaila Musa and Hon. Araoyinbo Olugbenga Joseph all of the Ondo State House of Assembly and they are hereinafter referred to as ‘Our Clients.’
“It is on their behalf and firm instructions that we make the following representations.Our Clients briefed us that they are current members of the Ondo State House of Assembly representing their various Constituencies in Ondo State.
“Our Clients further briefed us that sometime on the 9th of November, 2018 whilst they sat to conduct their legislative assignment at the Ondo State House of Assembly (wherein the erstwhile Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olayeloogun Bamidele and his deputy were impeached by 18 members of the House being the Constitutionally required two third (2/3) majority, and the oath of office was duly administered to the new Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide George and his deputy), the Assembly complex was invaded by a team lead by the Former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oloyeloogun and his entourage comprising of the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Police Command, Mr Gbenga Adeyanju and the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Ade Adetimehin who later employed the services of Mr Jacob Adebo (Idajo) been the State Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who came in the company of about 200 thugs brandishing all sorts of dangerous weapons, destroying vehicles and valuable structures in their path and assaulting our Clients and Staff of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“We were informed that the above circumstance necessitated the petition under reference titled “Assault, Threat to Life, and Abuse of Authority by the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Gbenga Adeyanju, Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and The APC Ondo State Chairman Ade Adetimehin” submitted to your office on the 12th of November, 2018. A copy of the said petition is hereby attached for ease of reference.
“ It beats our imagination that despite the extreme danger faced by our clients which has landed some of them in different hospitals and caused most to vacate their homes in Ondo State, the Nigeria Police Force has not acted or taken any step to redress the issue leading to the Petition.”
The petitioner, in the letter, alleged that CP as well as the Chairman of the APC, Ade Adetimehin looked on passively as mayhem and violence was unleashed on them, the staff of the House and even journalists who had come to cover the event for several hours by Idajo and his thugs while the CP made no efforts whatsoever to arrest the situation or any of the thugs in spite of the presence of over forty, well-armed police men and officers that were present at the scene.
He stated that his Clients had written a petition to the IG alleging threats to their lives, intimidation, but instead of attending to those allegations, the CP caused to be issued against his clients letters of invitation to answer to an allegation of forgery instigated by the impeached speaker, Hon Oleyelogun B. David.
Ajulo however expressed fears that this latest act is an attempt to harass, intimidate and cower his clients into submission to the minority in the House of Assembly using the instrument of State.
Consequently, Ajulo demanded that the case be taken over by the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of investigation as the Ondo CP has shown beyond any doubt that he is biased and indeed he is an interested party in that his clients have consistently alleged his complicity in the sad fate that befell them on Friday 9th November, 2018.
Recall that on Friday, November 9th, 2018, 18 members of Ondo State House, signed and passed a Notice of Impeachment against their then Speaker and Deputy Speaker, Hon Oleyelogun and Hon Iroju Ogundeji.
The Commissioner of Police had entered the office of the Speaker with his men and had tried to forcefully evict the new Speaker and the new Deputy Speaker and other members. He obviously met with a brick wall.
