By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY – THE chairman of Akoko-Edo local government area, Hon Tajudeen Alade who had been purportedly impeached on Monday denounced his alleged impeachment and said he had petitioned the police and the State Director, Department of State Services (DSS) on a recent invasion of his office by suspected thugs in an attempt to forcefully take it over.

He said what transpired in the council was a sham and that his petition was sent to the Inspector General of Police, The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG Zone 5), the Edo State Commissioner of Police and the Area Command Igarra of the police but till date, none of the people mentioned in the petition have been invited.

A copy of the letter written by his counsel, C. O. Osemeilu Law Firm made available to Vanguard on Monday mentioned about ten individuals and said others participated in the act.

The petition said the incident led to the disappearance of the chairman’s personal belongings, a desktop computer, laptops and other items.

Part of the letter said “Our Client informed us that someone called him from the office that the aforementioned together with other unknown hoodlums stormed the Akoko Edo Local Government Council Secretariat, climbed to the first floor of our Client’s office building, destroyed the keys on the two doors leading to our Client’s office and gained entrance into the office.

“Our Client further informed us that these hoodlums ransacked and carted away some items, meanwhile our Client informed us he left in the office a desktop and four new Laptop computers together with his official and personal belongings and a yet-to-be-disclosed sum.

“Our client who was in Benin at the time of the incident further informed us that there was an intelligence report by the DSS which suggests that there was going to be an attack on our client and his office, this caused the Area commander to direct the DPO to deploy his men to provide security to the Council.”

Alade told Vanguard that the DPO claimed they were overwhelmed by the crowd and could not stop the looting of his office but he said video footings that surfaced after the vandalism showed that the looting was carried out in the presence of the DPO and his men who merely stood and watch while the looting went on.

He called on security agencies to investigate the claims and invite all those mentioned for interrogation.