Four days after the invasion of the Benin Airport, the killing of Police Inspector Akor Onuh, and the shooting of several others by political thugs, the Edo State Government has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, accusing some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of masterminding the crisis.
According to report on Thursday, July 18, 2024, suspected armed political thugs invaded the premises and vicinity of the Benin Airport when the reinstated Deputy Governor of the State, Philip Shaibu, and the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, arrived from Abuja.
The invasion led to the shooting death of Police Inspector Akor Onuh, who was attached to MOPOL 45 Abuja and served as an orderly for the APC governorship candidate, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.
Reacting to the incident, the Edo State Government said it has petitioned the Inspector General of Police to investigate the incident by inviting the reinstated Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, and other members of his group.
The petition, signed by the State Solicitor General, Prof. Faith Osadolor, on behalf of the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, stated that if those accused are found culpable, they should be brought to book.
Titled “Request to Investigate a Case of Conspiracy to Commit Murder, Murder, Malicious Damage to Property, Breach of Public Peace, and Assault Occasioning Harm by Former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu, and His Cohorts,” the petition was addressed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Zone 5.
The petition reads:
“Firstly, we write to formally express our heartfelt condolences to the Nigeria Police Force on the passing of one of your gallant officers, Inspector Akor Onuh, attached to MOPOL 45 Abuja, who was a victim of the attack on July 18, 2024, instigated by former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu.
“Inspector Onuh was a true hero and dedicated public servant who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His bravery and commitment to protecting others will never be forgotten by the government and people of Edo State. We beseech God Almighty to comfort the Inspector General and other officers of the Nigeria Police, including the family of the departed officer.
“In addition to the above, I wish to restate, on behalf of the Edo State Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, that on July 18, 2024, there was a breakdown of law and order orchestrated by former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon. Philip Shaibu, under the guise of enforcing a court judgment that is a subject matter of a pending appeal, and to which a motion for stay of execution had been filed and served on him.
“The Attorney General, however, presented the facts of the petition as follows:
“On July 17, 2024, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja delivered a judgment nullifying the removal of Hon. Philip Shaibu as Deputy Governor of Edo State. The Edo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who was sued as the 3rd Defendant in the said suit, immediately lodged an appeal against the judgment alongside a motion praying the court to stay the execution of the judgment. Copies of the Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution were served on all parties to the appeal, including Hon. Philip Shaibu.
“On July 18, 2024, Hon. Philip Shaibu, purportedly in an attempt to interpret and enforce the judgment without awaiting the final outcome of the judicial process and contrary to the rule of law, recruited a throng of heavily armed thugs. This group included Tony Adun (aka Tony Kabaka), Daniel Eromosele (aka Pikolo), Efe Stewart, Joseph Okonigene, Noah Amiolemen Idemudia, Chief Osahon Airhunmwende (MD/CEO Play House Hotel Ltd), Eric Imariagbe (aka Baroko), Kelly Okungbowa (aka Ebo Stone), Lucky Igiebor, Kassy Chukwu, Osarumwense Marvis (aka Eweanwan), Osasenaga (aka Osasenaga Ogbe), and others.
“In line with their common intention, Hon. Philip Shaibu and his armed thugs invaded the Benin Airport, shooting sporadically, and thereafter moved into town, attacking road users, destroying vehicles, and other private and public properties. In the wake of their attack on harmless citizens, a police officer was shot dead by the fierce thugs while several other citizens were assaulted and sustained varying degrees of injuries. Even lawyers were attacked at the Secretariat of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Benin Branch.
“The government said it was reliably informed and believes that Hon. Philip Shaibu, the above-named persons, and others conspired with mathematical accuracy to execute with brutal efficiency such that Edo State would become ungovernable by taking over the Edo State Government House, increasing the level of destruction of the legitimate properties of innocent Edo citizens, and continuing their sporadic and intermittent shootings at targeted areas, among other acts.
“In light of the above, we urge you to embark on a thorough investigation of this matter by inviting Hon. Philip Shaibu and other members of his group, and if found culpable, they should be brought to book, as no man is above the law.”
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