Edo State Police Command on Sunday arrested Mr. Andrew Momodu, Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on security.
Describing his arrest, Momodu said he was arrested in “gestapo style.”
Momodu was arrested at about 9pm on Sunday by policemen from Abuja, following an alleged petition that he was among those that stoned the Benin City residence of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole.
But the Edo Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, vowed to sleep outside the Police headquarters if Momodu is not released to him.
Others reportedly scheduled to be picked up for questioning are Special Adviser to Obaseki on Political Matters (Edo South) Hon Osaigbovo Iyoha; head of Obaseki’s Public Works Volunteer, Mr. Murtari Osagie; Mr. Albert Obazee, Mr. Kelly Okungbowa and Augustine Edosomwan.
After Shaibu had waited for over four hours, the Abuja Police team released Momodu on grounds that Shaibu would make him available for questioning in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking on the issue, Shaibu said, “We discovered that some persons were up to something. Not even an appointee can be arrested without our knowledge. We will follow up to know what the issues are.”
“Six of them have been invited,” Shaibu added.
Speaking to newsmen after his release, Momodu said he was harassed and locked up in a cell.
He said he was arrested in “gestapo style” while going home from his business premises along Airport road in Benin City.
“As I was going home, I saw some persons jump down from Hilux van. They said they were policemen.
“I demanded for their identity card and they showed it to me. This was around 9 pm.
“One of them came behind me and kicked me. They threw me into a Hilux van, with other people already inside.
“They said they were taking me to Police headquarters. When we got there, they brought out a detention order where they wrote ‘conspiracy and attempted murder.’
“They made some calls and they were ordered that I should be detained.
“I was kept inside the cell. My wife had to cry out before my people were able to trace me.
“They said part of the allegations against me was that I am a cultist. I told them I have never been a member of any secret cult.
“They said I was recruiting people with a view to initiate them into cultism. I told them it was not true. They said I was harassing people and attacking them in Benin and in Etsako.
“They never showed me any petition, they said the questions they asked me was part of the allegations against me.
Source: Punch
