By Francis Sadhere

Right activist and constitutional lawyer, Barr. Omes Ogedegbe has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP, over what he described as alleged riotous destruction and demolition of multi-million naira plaza under construction by Hon. George Timinimi in company of his thugs basking under his police cover and the frustration of police investigation as attempt to transfer case to zone 5, Benin-city.

The demolished property

Barr. Ogedegbe who said he was acting on behalf of one Mrs. Ejoh Lovelyn of Uvwie Local Government area of Delta State, explained further that the petitioner upon their release after she and husband were beaten up by some alleged thugs proceeded to the police divisional headquarter Orerokpe where the matter was reported:

“That the police proceeded with its investigation and towed the said broken down bulldozer to the station.

That the police of Orerokpe division rather than do the needful by arresting the said Hon. George Tmininmi and his lawless assailants, the police is only shying away from its responsibility by demanding the arrest of the vendors who sold the said land to the petitioner when no case has been made out against the vendors.

That upon the failure of the police at the divisional headquarter, Orerokpe to conduct a proper investigation into this matter in view of the pedigree of the lead character of the act complained about, upon instructions from the petitioner, a petition was sent to the Commissioner of police on the 16th of April 2015 upon which the police impounded the two dumper caterpillars, arrested the equipment owners and the operators who volunteered statements to the police indicating their complacency in the matter.

They aided the officers of the state police command in their haunt for George Timinimi but to no avail and upon our office interaction with the Delta CP in his Asaba office on the 7th of May 2015 it was resolved that the two suspects be charged to court on the 8th of May 2015 while the haunt for Goorge continues.

Sadly, while we awaited the failed arrival of the police at Orerokpe magistrate court we were informed the matter have been transferred to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of police (zone5) Benin city Edo state, while the two suspects were kept and are still in police custody despite the concluded police investigation as to their involvement.

It will be too early in the day to raise any issue of bias as there was no basis of the said transfer to Zone 5 but in any case We do not want the fruitful investigation of the Asaba command to be thwarted by the police (zone5) hence our demand for your intervention with a definite mandate for:

The Arrest and prosecution of Hon. George Timinimi, Christopher Timinimi, Mr. Welfare Timinimi, Ikior Upele and their thugs.

Withdrawal of the police officers attached to Hon. George Timinimi in line with the operational force directive of no attachment of police officers to private citizens with no exception to Hon. George Timinimi.

Make public the police officers who gave police cover to Hon. George Timinimi by aiding him to carry out the wanton destruction of the ongoing construction of the multi-million naira property of Mrs. Lovelyn Ejor.

The police must comply with these demands within seven (7) working days of service therefrom from the date of our likely appearance.