The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, on Thursday denied complicity in the arrest of the Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Jarrett Tenebe.
The denial comes amidst reports linking Shaibu to the ordeal of the APC deputy chairman, who was arrested by the Edo State Police Command.
Shaibu while denying his involvement claimed that gun was found on APC chieftain at INEC’s office.
Shaibu, elected under the platform of the ruling the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo, stated that he was neither responsible nor involved in his arrest by security operatives from the state’s Police Command.
According to him, gun was found on Tenebe at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), at Agenebode, the headquarters of Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo.
Shaibu, spoke through his Press Secretary, Musa Ebomhiana, on the telephone.
“Policemen found gun on Tenebe at INEC’s office in Etsako East LGA. Are they saying that Edo State Deputy Governor, who hails from Etsako West LGA, planted gun on him (Tenebe)? Comrade Philip Shaibu has no control over the police. Are they insinuating that Nigerian police can be bought over? Edo Deputy Governor is not in charge of police in the state. (Etsako East and Etsako West LGAs are in Edo North Senatorial District).
“Edo State Police Command says Tenebe has a case to answer. Policemen and women are very responsible, and they cannot be used. Edo Deputy Governor has no hand in Tenebe’s arrest. They should stop maligning him. Comrade Philip Shaibu has an office and good name to protect.” He stated.
Meanwhile, the Edo Chairman of APC, Col. David Imuse (rtd.), insisted that Shaibu was behind the arrest of the Edo deputy chairman of the APC, by policemen in the state.
Imuse, who also spoke through the Assistant State Publicity Secretary of APC, Ofure Osehobo, cautioned Shaibu and his spokesman to stop playing politics with the arrest and accept responsibility of the arrest.
Imuse refused to accept the claims of the Edo state government that police arrested Tenebe and one Akeem Zibiri, a retired officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), over alleged illegal possession of arms and invasion of INEC’s office, describing the allegations as fallacious and ridiculous.
“Mr. Tenebe, a peace-loving democrat, patriot and party loyalist was arrested by policemen attached to Mr. Shaibu, as he was returning home from the Edo State capital, after attending a party function. He is not a thug, he was not and cannot be on a mission to loot and tamper with sensitive INEC materials for the House of Assembly election, as alleged.
“The ‘police’s statement,’ which the Edo government gave out on Thursday, could not have emanated from the Edo State Police Command, as it was not the style of the police to rationalise arrest of citizens in the media. The statement was not signed, and it is fraudulent.
“We insist that, resorting to using the police to arrest and detain Edo State Deputy Chairman of APC is completely unacceptable, unlawful and cannot be justified under any guise whatsoever.
“Our party charges the Edo Deputy Governor to note that the state is part of the Nigerian nation, which is a democracy, governed by law which creates no space for the whims and caprices of dictatorial, oppressive and vindictive individuals, who have no regard for rules.” He said.
According to Imuse, Shaibu had no right to order the arrest and illegal detention, Tenebe, or any other citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, at an unknown location.
He, however, called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, for quick intervention into the matter.
He called on the IGP, to insulate the police from the political manipulation of the PDP’s government in Edo State and, immediately order for the unconditional release of Tenebe.
He stated that in keeping with the demands of the tenets of democracy, rule of law and provisions of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria, as amended, Tenebe should be released.
Meanwhile, Tenebe has been released by Edo Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Dankwara, on Thursday.
The APC state Treasurer, Ahmed Ekekhide Mahmud, confirmed the development.
Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, Superintendent of Police could not be reached for his reaction.
