Ekiti State Police Command on Friday arrested two
loyalists of the Peoples Democratic Party in
connection with the attack on the All Progressives
Congress supporters at the Ekiti Election Petition
Tribunal on June 30.
The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the APC
senatorial candidate for Ekiti Central, Gbenga Olofin,
against the return of Senator Fatimat Rasaki of the
PDP.
On that day, Olofin had closed his case at the tribunal after calling eight witnesses, while his opponent, Mrs. Rasaki, opened her defence by being the first witness to testify in support of her election.
The two arrested in the wee hours of Friday were the Campaign Coordinator of Mrs. Rasaki in Igede Ekiti, Mr Ibukun Ayodele, and the senator’s anchorman in Ado Ekiti, Mrs Bosede Adeleke.
It was learnt that Ayodele was arrested in his house
along Nova Road in Ado Ekiti on Friday at about 6am
while Mrs Adeleke was also arrested around 7am.
They were, however, released on administrative bail
by the Police on Friday and asked to resume Tuesday for further interrogation.
A police source said the duo were released because
of the public holiday and because they could not be
detained beyond 24 hours without a charge preferred against them.
According to the spokesperson of Olofin, Akogun Tai
Oguntayo, who also comfirmed the incident, the two
PDP loyalists have confessed being loyalists of
Senator Raji Rasaki and being present in court on the said day.
Olofin had expressed his desire to get the matter
prosecuted on the grounds that, “it was a replica of
what happened on elelection day.”
Oguntayo said he only managed to escape
harassment on that day as he had earlier been
warned by a prominent PDP member in the full glare
of everyone at the court, who expressed
dissatisfaction at his (Oguntayo’s) presence.
The Ekiti Police Public Relations, Mr. Alberto
Adeyemi, could not be reached on phone for
comments on Monday.
Senator Rasaki, also has yet to reply to any of the text
messages from our correspondent as of press time.
The Tribunal Chairman, Justice A. N. Erabor, had on
the day of the attack admitted the voter register as an
evidence, after listening to a counter-argument
between the petitioner’s counsel, Yemi George and
Respondent’s lawyer, Jude Ogodi.
But the hoodlums suspected to be loyal to the
respondent, who had waited outside the courtroom
as the proceedings were going on unleashed terror
on the petitioner’s witnesses and supporters.
They also laid ambush at the gate of the complex
looking for APC members and supporters who fled in
different direction.
