ABUJA – A group under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party Integrity Group in Edo State has condemned the arrest of its officials over allegations of an assassination attempt on Hon. (Prince) Henry Okojie, a member of the House of Representatives and husband of Nollywood actress Mercy Johnson.
In a statement on Saturday, Isaac Imasuagbon, convener of the group’s election integrity body, said the arrest and detention of his friend, Frank Idemudia and driver, Eze by the State CID in Benin City is a calculated effort to destroy the lives of innocent people who were carrying out their civic duties of asking citizens to participate in the governorship election.
Imasuagbon explained that trouble started when his two associates, who went to deliver a message to his relative, were mistakenly directed by a commercial motorcyclist, popularly called Okada, to the residence of the lawmaker in Uromi, Edo State because his surname is similar to the lawmaker’s.
“What should have been a simple clarification escalated, quickly becoming politically charged and manipulated for political gain,” he said.
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“My vehicle was seized, my driver was assaulted, my friends, including Frank Idemudia, were humiliated, PDP agents’ materials were confiscated, and they were kidnapped and handed over to the police.
“But it didn’t end there. A smear campaign was launched, filled with lies and character assassination, in a blatant attempt to damage my impeccable reputation.
“These false accusations wouldn’t stand up to any scrutiny, even in Nigeria” Imasuagbon stated.
Recall that Michael Ihaza, the media aide to the lawmaker, had in a
statement, said the suspects allegedly ambushed his principal in his residence while riding in a Lexus GX 470 with Rivers State plate number.
Meanwhile, efforts made to contact the Police Public Relations Officer, Moses Joel Yamu, a Superintendent of Police, were unsuccessful as he neither picked up calls nor responded to text messages as of the time of filing this report.
