Police arrest Edo CRPP chairman

By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—Edo State chairman of the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), Dr. Samson Isibor, was yesterday arrested by operatives of the state police command over alleged defamatory statements against Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Officials of the CID unit of the state Police command had trailed Dr. Isbor to the High Court premises along Sapele road, Benin City, where he was whisked to the state command.

But reacting yesterday, the state government through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Mr. John Mayaki, dissociated the state government from Isibor’s travails, saying that “it has to do with the police and not the state government”.

According to a petition from the state government, Isibor is accused of allegedly defaming the name of the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, between March 23 to 29, 2009, and at the same time intended to incite the people of the state against the governor.

At about 1:40pm yesterday when newsmen visited the SCID unit of the command, Dr. Isibor was sighted making statements to the men of the anti-vice unit of the criminal investigation outfit.

The ordeal of the CRPP boss, Vanguard learnt, may be connected with his recent attacks on the state governor, based on his policies which, according to Isibor, wereharsh on the people.

The governor, who commented last week on the issue, said “ this is a democracy, so everybody is free to air his views.

“We will entertain any criticism as long as it will help our state. So I am not against criticisms, it is healthy in a democratic setting”.

However, a team of lawyers battled to secure the release of the CRPP chairman who doubles as the state chairman of Accord Party.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state,ASP Peter Ogboi, when contacted, said he was not aware of the incident, adding “it has not been brought to my attention”.