Police Arraigns LG Chairman, PDP Members, Ahead of Edo Polls

Police Arrests PDP Members Ahead of Edo Polls

A local government chairman and nine other members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including a minor, have been arraigned by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Edo State.

Neusroom gather that the aforementioned were brought before a Chief Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the Dutse Magisterial District on Thursday.

The court ordered the remand of the accused persons in prison custody.

This media learned that the minor arrested is a PDP member aged 13.

They have been charged on three counts bordering on illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, offences contrary to Section 9(2) and Punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) (iii) of the Firearms Act CAP F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is the complainant in this suit.

Tom Uduaghighde Amos, Hon. Kingsley Osehon, Kehinde Olotu, Nuel Mathew, Joel Imojiere, Adeshino Aremo, Ikielea Jeo, Festus Ovienloba, Hon. Aigbogun Collins and Agogoh Daniel, are Defendants 1-10 in this suit.

Before their arraignment on Thursday in Abuja, the defendants were apprehended on July 18, 2024 at Airport Road Benin Edo State and had been in police custody since then.

COUNT 1 of the charges read: “That you Tom Uduaghighde Amos ‘m’ 57 years, Hon. Kingsley Osehon 57 yrs, Kehinde Olotu 45 years, Nuel Mathew 33 Years; Joel Imojiere ‘M’ 36 yrs, Adeshino Aremo ‘M’ 56 Years, Ikielea Jeo ‘M’ 40 yrs, Festus Ovienloba 47 years, Hon. Aigbogun Collins 38 years and Agogoh Daniel 13 yrs and others now at large on or about the 18th Day of July, 2024 at Airport Road Benin Edo State while acting in concert and armed with AK 47 rifles, pistols and other dangerous weapons were arrest by the police for dealing in arms and ammunition without license or justification and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9(2) and Punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) (iii) of the Firearms Act CAP F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

COUNT 2 of the charges read: “That you Tom Uduaghighde Amos ‘m’ 57 years, Hon. Kingsley Osehon 57 yrs, Kehinde Olotu 45 years, Nuel Mathew 33 Years; Joel Imojiere ‘M’ 36 yrs, Adeshino Aremo ‘M’ 56 Years, Ikielea Jeo ‘M’ 40 yrs, Festus Ovienloba 47 years, Hon. Aigbogun Collins 38 years and Agogoh Daniel 13 yrs and others now at large on or about the 18th Day of July, 2024 at Airport Road Benin Edo State while acting in concert and armed with AK 47 RIFLES, pistols and other dangerous weapons were arrest by the police and other security operatives in possession of 3 pump action rifle prohibited firearms, 1 barreta pistol prohibited firearm, and 2 locally fabricated pistols prohibited firearms without license or justification and you thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 3 punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act CAP F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

COUNT 3 of the charges read: “That you Tom Uduaghighde Amos ‘m’ 57 years, Hon. Kingsley Osehon 57 yrs, Kehinde Olotu 45 years, Nuel Mathew 33 Years; Joel Imojiere ‘M’ 36 yrs, Adeshino Aremo ‘M’ 56 Years, Ikielea Jeo ‘M’ 40 yrs, Festus Ovienloba 47 years, Hon. Aigbogun Collins 38 years and Agogoh Daniel 13 yrs and others now at large on or about the 18th Day of July, 2024 at Airport Road Benin Edo State while acting in concert and armed with AK 47 RIFLES, pistols and other dangerous weapons were arrest by the police and other security operatives in possession of 10 pump action cartridges live ammunition and six rounds of barreta pistols live ammunition without license or justification and you thereby committed an Offence contrary to Section 8 punishable under Section 27 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act CAP F28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

The charges were filed by Audu Garba Esq, Prosecuting Counsel Legal/Section Intelligence Response Team (IRT) Force Intelligence Department Abuja on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.

Hearing for bail application of the accused has been slated for September 23, after the conclusion of the Edo State Governorship Election.

Sources close to the matter state that the defendants argued against the court having jurisdiction to rule over the matter, with the Margistrate still fixing the said date for bail application nonetheless.

The arrests have raised eyebrows among the opposition parties and observers in Edo state as it comes only weeks to the Edo Governorship polls.