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*AS AIG ZONE 5 BENIN WARNS MISCHIEF MAKERS TO DESIST FROM SPREADING FALSE NEWS WHILE AWAITING VERDICT FROM COURT*
Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin is aware of misleading narratives aired on NTA Benin, Independent Television and Radio and other online News media outlet about the murder of Edwin Ogiemwense Ogiamen of Ubiaza community.
The report revealed that one Kola Edokpayi of the Edo State Civil Society Organization and President of the Talakawa Parliament at a Press Conference held on Wednesday 18th October, 2023 alleged that one Emmanuel Aigbogun was unlawfully arrested over the murder of Edwin Ogiamen by Police officers attached to Zone 5 Headquarters in Benin when he visited the Zone over a petition he wrote prior to this time and that a few days later, he was charged to court without discreet investigation and thereafter remanded at the Oko Correctional centre in Benin City, while the actual killers of Edwin were yet to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted. The Zone wish to state for the record that these allegations are Unfounded, Baseless and False and a calculated attempt to manipulate the public and evade prosecution.
2.It is pertinent to state that Zone 5 Headquarters does not want to enter into any form of media debate with the said Kola Edokpayi but for avoidance of doubt and for members of the public not to be misled by his false narratives, the Zonal Command wish to state the following facts:
i. On 01/03/2023, a petition dated 27/02/2023 written by Legal minds law firm on behalf of one Edwin Ogiemwense, the Okaighele/youth leader of Ubiaza community along Benin/Sapele Road, Ikpoba-Okha LGA was received and referred to the Anti-vice section for discreet investigation.
ii. That on 29/03/2023, two operatives of the Anti-vice section while at Ubiaza community to serve letter of invitation to the suspect, one Lucky Ogiamen ‘m’ a fight ensued between the said Lucky Osifo Ogiamen and the petitioner, late Edwin Ogiemwense, which was followed by sporadic gunshots from the armed thugs stationed around the community bush by the said Lucky Ogiamen.
iii. The Police operatives who weren’t armed tactically escaped unhurt, while the armed thugs held the petitioner hostage and later shot him dead.
iv. That when the information on the attack was received at the Zone, serious efforts were made to reinforce and rescue the petitioner but before reaching there, he had already been killed and their vehicles burnt.
v. That now being a murder case, the incident was accordingly reported and referred to the Homicide section of the Zone for discreet investigation and on 31/03/2023, the team with some vigilante members arrested four suspects; (1) Isaiah Adejumo ‘m’ (2) Alex Charley ‘m’ (3) Julius Iyangbe 'm' and (4) Moses Babatunde ‘m’ in connection with the murder of the said Edwin Ogiamen.
vi. That at the close of initial investigation, the suspects made confessional statement and investigation report was submitted and the four suspects were arraigned in court on count charges of conspiracy, murder and malicious damage.
vii. Furthermore, the duplicated casefiles were sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice which has been rendered after a painstaking review and proper charges/information were already filed at the court by DPP for prosecution.
viii. That on 14/09/2023, three other suspects at large, one Lucky Osifo Ogiamen ‘m’, Obasuyi Uyi ‘m’ and Emmanuel Aigbogun ‘m’ a human right activist were arrested, investigated and also joined in the pending charge in court.
It is pertinent to state that the said Emmanuel Aigbogun was arrested by SWAT operatives from Abuja after being pointed out by the deceased family and not operatives of the Zone and Emmanuel Aigbogun despite not being an indigene of the community was fully involved in community leadership tussle in Ubiaza as he supports the Lucky Ogiamen faction and is said to have benefitted from sales of lands acquired and given to him by the said Lucky Ogiamen.
It is also important to state that the said Emmanuel Aigbogun was the first person to take a snapshot of the deceased at the scene few minutes after he was killed, and further uploaded same picture to the social media.
3.The Zone wish to state that in respect of the allegations made against the O/C Anti-vice and his team, they were earlier invited and interviewed by the IGP’s Monitoring unit, Abuja on 18/05/2023 and were thereafter released. That the allegations made against the Policemen are not only false and malicious, but a calculated effort to divert the focus of the investigation.
4.In view of the above, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City AIG ARUNGWA NWAZUE , psc(+), mni has urged the public to remain calm as justice will be served in the matter. The AIG further warned all those fond of spreading false information to the public to desist from such as they could be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.
5.Additionally, the AIG reminded the Civil Society Organization that Emmanuel Aigbogun is not in the custody of the Police but in the custody of the court, and therefore his release cannot be ordered by the Police. If he actually has an alibi on the day of the murder and could be verified, he should bring it to the hearing of the court.
6.Finally, the AIG has encouraged all to be patient while the court is given time to consider the facts in the case before it decides.
*E Signed*
*DSP. TIJANI A. MOMOH, anipr*
ZONAL POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
ZONE 5 HEADQUARTERS, BENIN CITY.
20th October, 2023
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