Police arrest two over attack on tribunal in Ekiti

Ekiti State Police Command on Friday arrested two loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party in connection with the attack on the All Progressives Congress supporters at the Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal on June 30.

 

The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the APC senatorial candidate for Ekiti Central, Gbenga Olofin, against the return of Senator Fatimat Rasaki of the PDP.

 

On that day, Olofin had closed his case at the tribunal after calling eight witnesses, while his opponent, Mrs. Rasaki, opened her defence by being the first witness to testify in support of her election.

 

The two arrested in the wee hours of Friday were the Campaign Coordinator of Mrs. Rasaki in Igede Ekiti, Mr Ibukun Ayodele, and the senator’s anchorman in Ado Ekiti, Mrs Bosede Adeleke.

 

It was learnt that Ayodele was arrested in his house along Nova Road in Ado Ekiti on Friday at about 6am while Mrs Adeleke was also arrested around 7am.

 

They were, however, released on administrative bail by the Police on Friday and asked to resume Tuesday for further interrogation.

 

A police source said the duo were released because of the public holiday and because they could not be detained beyond 24 hours without a charge preferred against them.

 

According to the spokesperson of Olofin, Akogun Tai Oguntayo, who also comfirmed the incident, the two PDP loyalists have confessed being loyalists of Senator Raji Rasaki and being present in court on the said day.

 

Olofin had expressed his desire to get the matter prosecuted on the grounds that, “it was a replica of what happened on elelection day.”

 

Oguntayo said he only managed to escape harassment on that day as he had earlier been warned by a prominent PDP member in the full glare of everyone at the court, who expressed dissatisfaction at his (Oguntayo’s) presence.

 

The Ekiti Police Public Relations, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, could not be reached on phone for comments on Monday.

Senator Rasaki, also has yet to reply to any of the text messages from our correspondent as of press time.

 

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice A. N. Erabor, had on the day of the attack admitted the voter register as an evidence, after listening to a counter-argument between the petitioner’s counsel, Yemi George and Respondent’s lawyer, Jude Ogodi.

 

But the hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the respondent, who had waited outside the courtroom as the proceedings were going on unleashed terror on the petitioner’s witnesses and supporters.

 

They also laid ambush at the gate of the complex looking for APC members and supporters who fled in different direction.

 

(Punch)