The chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, Hon. Tajudeen Alade, who was purportedly impeached on last Monday, has dismissed the impeachment as illegitimate and raised alarms over the looting of his office by suspected thugs.
Alade revealed that he has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG Zone 5), the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and the State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate the incident.
In his petition, Alade alleged that a group of individuals, alongside unknown accomplices, invaded the council secretariat in an attempt to forcefully take over his office. “What transpired in the council was a sham,” Alade said, adding that none of those mentioned in his complaint have been invited for questioning so far.
A letter from Alade’s counsel, C.O. Osemeilu Law Firm, outlined the details of the incident, which allegedly occurred while Alade was in Benin. According to the letter, the attackers stormed the Akoko-Edo Local Government Secretariat, broke into Alade’s office, and made away with several items, including a desktop computer, four laptops, personal belongings, and an undisclosed sum of money.
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The letter read in part: “Our Client informed us that someone called him from the office that the aforementioned together with other unknown hoodlums stormed the Akoko-Edo Local Government Council Secretariat, climbed to the first floor of our Client’s office building, destroyed the keys on the two doors leading to our Client’s office, and gained entrance into the office.
“Our Client further informed us that these hoodlums ransacked and carted away some items. Meanwhile, our Client informed us he left in the office a desktop and four new laptop computers together with his official and personal belongings and a yet-to-be-disclosed sum.”
Alade also claimed that prior intelligence from the DSS warned of a potential attack on him and his office. He stated that this prompted the Area Commander to direct the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to deploy officers to secure the council premises. However, the DPO allegedly reported that his men were overwhelmed by the crowd.
Contradicting the DPO’s claim, Alade pointed to video evidence showing the police present at the scene during the looting but failing to intervene. “The looting was carried out in the presence of the DPO and his men, who merely stood and watched while the vandalism continued,” he said.
Hon. Tajudeen Alade has called on security agencies to thoroughly investigate the incident, interrogate those mentioned in the petition, and ensure justice is served. A copy of the petition, shared with the media, lists about ten individuals allegedly involved in the attack.
As of now, no formal response has been issued by the Edo State Police Command or the DSS regarding the allegations.
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