The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State has petitioned the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, calling his attention to a sudden jump in security threats in Ekiti State shortly after Governor Ayodele Fayose was declared winner of the June 21, 2014 governorship election.
In a petition by the state Chairman of the APC, Chief Jide Awe, the party noted that even though there were pockets of security breaches in the state during campaigns, including the tear-gassing of former Governor Kayode Fayemi by the police, the situation degenerated when Fayose allegedly led thugs to the court to beat up the judges and had court records in the Chief Judge’s office torn.
Awe added that the situation had worsened after his inauguration.
The petition, copied to the President, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, the Ekiti State Director of the DSS and the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, alleged a leap in insecurity shortly after “Fayose made a special request for redeployment to Ekiti State the policemen that formed the nucleus of a killer squad in Ekiti State between 2003 and 2006 as confirmed by the Presidential Security Panel Report on Political Killings in Ekiti State”.
The petition reads in part: “We are worried by the antecedents of these police officers when they served Governor Fayose between 2003 and 2006. Our fear is not without basis. A cursory look at the ‘Report of the Presidential Security Panel Investigation of Killings in Ekiti’ constituted by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 succinctly leads us to the present fear, as state-sponsored terrorism rears its head again with particular reference to the same officers, who were indicted in that report and who have been recalled by Governor Fayose to his service in Ekiti State.”
The party noted in particular that Fayose’s former Chief Security Officer, Timothy Gbenga Joseph, had been recalled to the service of the governor and now serves as his current Aide De Camp.
To support its case, the party quoted the security report dated September 18, 2005 in paragraph 35 as follows: “The CSO (Timothy Gbenga Joseph) has been boasting around that the former CSO to the late Sani ABACHA (Gen), Hamza MUSTAPHA (Major) was his mentor…. He has involved himself in unprofessional conduct and extra-judicial activities by collaborating with Fayose’s aide to arrest, torture, harass and detain citizens of Ekiti State without recourse to laid down principles of criminal justice administration. Some instances are: the arrest of and torture of one Joke OGUNLEYE and two of her children on March 13, 2004 because of her husband’s perceived misdemeanor and arrest and detention on March 13, 2004 of the following: Moses Olusola, Emmanuel Nidu, Sunday Nidu, Festus Akinola and Ogunmuti Ojo.
“Indiscriminate use of arms and ammunition without just cause by shooting into the air to intimidate and threaten citizens in Ekiti State. His actions as contained in ‘E’ and ‘F’ above earned him (Timothy Gbenga Joseph) a letter of reprimand Ref. No. LB, 0900/EKS/SHQ/Vol. 1V/86 titled ‘Security Report General’ of 19th March 2004 and signed by S.A Hashimu (DCP), a copy of which was sent to DSS, Ekiti State Command.”
The party also called Dasuki’s attention to paragraph 49 of the report, quoting: “Subject (Gbenga Timothy Joseph) and others’ roles in the Ifaki killing during a bye-election. Subject and others’ roles in the Democracy Day Walk/clash with the AD (Alliance for Democracy), his role in the attempted killing of Fasuba, his and others’ roles in the planned assassination of Afe Babalola (SAN) and Femi Falana. He is hereby recommended for criminal prosecution and immediate redeployment from the Government House.”
The party said that it was worrisome that after this police officer was transferred out of Ekiti State as recommended, he never faced any criminal prosecution but a “befitting” redeployment to Ekiti State through the governor’s special request to continue the reign of terror in the state.
Awe also listed Usman Shaba and Moses Usman, both mobile policemen, as former members of Fayose’s special squad who are now back in his service.
Specifically, the APC leader listed Shaba as former security aide to Fayose’s wife, and he is currently attached to T.K. Aluko, Fayose’s close associate, who does not hold any cabinet position to deserve close body protection and who was also indicted in the presidential security panel report.
Another officer is Mopol Moses Usman, Dayo Okondo’s erstwhile body guard, who was also indicted by the security report.
According to the report, Moses was identified as the officer who shot Olugbenga Jaiyeola in the leg at Ikere-Ekiti on March 15, 2004, leading to the amputation of Jaiyeola’s leg.
Awe noted that since the arrival of the policemen in Ekiti State, the activities of unknown men visiting the homes of APC leaders at nights, particularly APC lawmakers, had increased.
He cited the visits to the homes of two APC lawmakers who received letters from “police” for “interaction”, explaining that upon clarification from the Police Command, the Commissioner of Police said such a letter did not emanate from the State Command, raising fears that the era of killer squad is back.
Awe called for the immediate redeployment of the policemen from Ekiti State if they must remain in the force at all.
He urged the police to stop supporting illegalities as seen in their support for the seven PDP lawmakers while same was denied the 19 APC lawmakers.
He also urged the authorities to provide equal treatment for all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.
Reacting, the Ekiti State chapter of the PDP has said it is an irony that Awe, who is standing trial for murder and who ought to be in prison, is the one levelling allegations of killing and destruction against others.
The PDP, through the state Secretary, Dr. Tope Aluko, stated this in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
It said it would not have reacted to Awe’s letter to Dasuki, but just to set the records straight and refresh the memories of Awe and others as it appears they suffer from collective amnesia.
The statement by Aluko said: “Right thinking Ekiti people and Nigerians as a whole should ask Awe and his APC self-deluding shadow chasers to first account for the over 10 persons they killed in their four years of governance in the state.
“Awe should also let the whole world know why he has become a fugitive, running from justice and seeking to manipulate the system by going as far as Jos, Plateau State to seek kangaroo injunctions. The blood of Ayo Jeje and Madam Juliana Adewumi that they shed in Erijiyan-Ekiti on March 31, 2013 is crying for justice and will surely get it.
“Awe should note that the long arm of justice will surely get him anyhow and anywhere, he can only run and hide for a while.
“Three days after the APC-led government was ushered into office through the infamous ‘salamigate’ scandal, they started their reign of terror in the state with the killing of Chief Awolumate in Omuo-Ekiti when they forcibly took over local governments headed and ran by elected public officers courtesy local government election conducted by Segun Oni.
“They did not stop at that, the APC people killed and killed even until few weeks before they left office when they killed Chief Omolafe Aderiye on September 25, 2014. People know their killer squad. Some of them like Adeniyi Adedipe are facing trial now, while people like Awe and Deji Adesokan have become fugitives.
“The police and other security agencies reserve the right to post their operatives anywhere duty calls. Therefore, that somebody worked in Ekiti State during the first term of Governor Ayo Fayose and is now back to the state, should not give any serious person headache.”