APC feud deepens as Police summon Ondo Finance Commissioner over attempted murder, others By Dally Iyamu
APC feud deepens as Police summon Ondo Finance Commissioner over attempted murder, others
By Dally Iyamu
The Nigeria Police Force has invited Ondo State’s Finance Commissioner, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac, for questioning in connection with a criminal investigation bordering on conspiracy, assault and attempted murder.
The invitation, issued by the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Mayamba Magomya Aliya, is linked to a petition in which the commissioner’s name reportedly featured prominently.
Police sources said the investigation covers serious allegations including criminal conspiracy, attempted murder, threat to life, assault and the infliction of grievous bodily harm.
Authorities explained that the invitation was issued in line with Section 53(2)(a) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, which empowers the police to summon individuals whose statements are considered vital to an ongoing investigation.
Although the official communication did not provide full details of the incident, fresh findings have linked the development to a violent political clash in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that the controversy stemmed from a dispute over the All Progressives Congress (APC) congress list in Owo, which reportedly triggered tension among party stakeholders.
At the centre of the incident is an APC leader in the area, Mr Isiaka Elegberenban, who was allegedly attacked and severely beaten by suspected thugs during the crisis.
Eyewitness accounts described the assault as brutal, leaving the victim badly injured.
Investigations have reportedly traced the attack to individuals linked to political interests within the locality.
In a twist that has heightened the stakes, the commissioner’s younger brother, Mr Kunle Odide, has been accused of mobilising the thugs who carried out the assault.
Further complicating the case are allegations involving a House of Representatives aspirant in the area, identified as Arowele, who is said to have financed the attack.
According to sources, financial transactions linked to the suspect revealed that a sum of N2 million was allegedly transferred from his Zenith Bank account to facilitate the operation, with an additional balance reportedly paid after the attack was executed.
The emerging financial trail is said to have strengthened the case for investigators, who are now working to establish the extent of involvement of all parties connected to the incident.
Although, Mrs Isaac has not been directly accused of carrying out the attack, her reported connection through her younger brother and her mention in the original petition appear to have prompted the police invitation.
Security analysts noted that the invitation does not imply guilt but signals that investigators consider her testimony crucial to unraveling the circumstances surrounding the incident.
As of press time, neither the commissioner nor the Ondo State Government had issued an official statement addressing the allegations or the police invitation.
Efforts to reach key stakeholders within the state’s APC structure were unsuccessful, as party officials declined to comment on what many described as a sensitive internal matter.
The Nigeria Police Force maintained that the investigation would be thorough, impartial and guided strictly by the rule of law.
With political undertones and allegations of violence now intertwined, the case is expected to attract significant public attention in the coming days, particularly as it touches on intra-party conflicts and the conduct of political actors ahead of future elections.
Observers say the outcome of the investigation could have far-reaching implications for those directly involved and the broader political climate in Ondo State.
