Oyerinde: Ugolor alleges threat to life

By SIMON EBEGBULEM

BENIN—Executive Director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, who was earlier arrested and detained by the police over the killing of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, Principal Private Secretary to Edo State governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, has alleged threat to his life.

It will be recalled that Ugolor was detained for one month and two weeks over the matter, until the state Director of Public Prosecution absolved him of complicity in the killing, just as the state high court in Benin ordered the police to pay him N5 million as damages.

Following the controversy that arose between the Department of State Security, DSS, and the police over the investigation, the House of Representatives had invited officials of DSS and the Attorney General of the Federation for a hearing on the matter scheduled for next week.

However, Ugolor told Vanguard, yesterday, that he was being trailed by unknown cars, adding that he might have been marked for assassination. He said that the policemen assigned to investigate the killing of Oyerinde should be held responsible if any thing happens to him.

He said: “Because I am insisting that the real killers must be produced by the police, they are now after me. I am going into hiding for now. There is a subtle threat that I should stop fighting over this matter. The unusual trailing of cars behind me is giving me cause for concern. Since I was released by the court and acquitted of the allegation of being involved in the murder of my friend Oyerinde, I have insisted that the police framed me.”

Ugolor urged Nigerians to attend the public hearing by the House of Representatives in order to know the truth.