- Police provide details of Secretary’s claims
The Police in Kogi State have given details of the claims by the Secretary of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the state, David Umar, who reported that he was attacked on the way to the Secretariat a day after the window for petition filing closed.
In his statement at the Command, the Police said the Secretary claimed that some hooded gunmen blocked his vehicle, ransacked it and made away with all documents, including Petitions filed by four political parties.
His claims came on the heels of the alarm raised by some Kogi lawyers and activists, under the aegis of the United Front for Democracy, concerning an alleged clandestine move by the Social Democratic Party to file their petition against the outcome of the November 11 election through the backdoor, after the 21 days window, and backdate same.
The statement, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi State, William Ovye Aya, said, “On Monday 04/12/2023 about 1820hrs one Mr David Umar Mike ‘m’, Secretary to Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal along with Labode Apreala (f) Confidential Secretary and Hassimu Adamu Assistant Secretary, came to State Criminal Investigation Department, Kogi State Police Headquarters and reported that on the said date the three of them left their Hotel rooms in Lokoja about 1300hrs heading to their Office at the High Court Complex driving in his (David’s) Peugeot 406 car.
“That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVS following behind. All of them surrounded and blocked him as he attempted to reverse. That he saw about seven hooded men all heavily armed and dressed in black attire who shot severally into the air and dragged him and his two other colleagues out of their car, ransacked the car and made away with all the documents including Petitions filed by four (4) Parties namely Action Alliance (AA), Action People’s Party (APP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP)/two (2) Record Books/a Bag containing his personal items.
“He claimed to have also reported to the DSS Office. Hence a thorough and diligent investigation into the incident has been ordered by the Commissioner of Police Kogi State Command.
“The attention of Kogi State Police Command has been drawn to series of distorted information on the incident hence the need to set the records straight. The general public is advised to avoid statements that may prejudice ongoing investigation into the matter. The Command also appeals to anyone with useful information on the alleged incident to provide same to the Command. The public will be updated as investigation progresses.”