Rivers’ Assembly Speaker cries out to IGP over Police involvement in attempt to assassinate him; CP Disu dismisses claim

Global Patriot Staff November 21, 2023 Lead Story, Local, News, Security Report Leave a comment 268 Views

Ikuru Lizzy/Desmond Ejibas

Port Harcourt, Nov. 21, 2023

The Speaker of the Rivers House of Assembly, Mr. Edison Ehie (PDP-Ahoada 11) has urged the Inspector General of Police to address the alleged misconduct of some officers deployed to Rivers, who he said were part of an attempt to assassinate him because of his support for Governor Siminalaye Fubara.

Ehie made the appeal on Monday while addressing newsmen on an alleged invasion of his Port Harcourt residence.

According to him, some men in company of armed police officers, forcefully entered his residence at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, shooting sporadically in an attempt to kill him and members of his family.

He claimed that he had been under attack since Oct. 30 when he openly supported the governor, Siminalaye Fubara, whom some lawmakers attempted to unjustly impeach.

“Because we stood behind the governor to say that evil cannot reign over good in the state, I and my family have suddenly come under attacks and threats, especially after my election as the Speaker of the 10th Assembly.

Ehie also commended people of the state for the concern shown to him and his family when the news of the attempt on his life went public.

He, however, reaffirmed support for Gov. Fubara.

But Mr. Olatunji Disu, Commissioner of Police in Rivers, has dismissed claims of an assassination attempt on Ehie, pointing out to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday that that the command had launched full investigation to ascertain the claims made by the Speaker.

Ehie (PDP Ahoada-East II) had claimed that police officers in mufti shot sporadically while attempting to force their way into his private residence to assassinate him but were resisted by policemen attached to him.

But the police commissioner described what happened at Ehie’s residence as a routine police patrol.

“The preliminary investigations we have done so far have not revealed any assassination attempt on the Speaker.

“All I know was that Police officers were on convoy patrol which is a routine thing.

“We have made frantic efforts to get across to the Speaker to give us information he has, so that we can include it with the information we already have.

Disu pleaded with the factional speaker to come forward and file an official complaint to enable the police to conclude their investigation on the alleged attack.

“So far so good, as there is nothing to worry about.

“My number is going to be made public so that they can call me quickly to enable me to look quickly into it (the allegation).

“For now, I haven’t gotten anything (complaints) like that,” he added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ehie was sworn in as speaker by lawmakers believed to be loyal to Gov. Fubara of Rivers.

The lawmakers had ousted the former speaker, Martins Amaewhule (Obio Akpor constituency), a close ally of former governor Nyesom Wike, after he led some lawmakers to initiate impeachment proceedings against Fubara.

However, Amaewhule insists that he is still the speaker of the House of Assembly, resulting in leadership confusion over the Speaker’s Office.