EFCC detains Edo speaker, APC alleges intimidation

Three members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Edo state house of assembly have been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The detained members are Uyi Igbe, the speaker (pictured); Philip Shaibu, the majority leader; and Folly Ogedegbe, the chief whip.

The police had earlier arrested and detained the trio in Benin over the violence unleashed on Abdulrazak Momoh, the lawmaker representing Etsako west 1 constituency.

Momoh was reportedly attacked by hoodlums after he climbed over the perimeter fence of the Edo state legislative quarters in defiance of orders by security men at the gate.

The reasons for the EFCC summon are still unclear. But the APC has linked it to the ongoing crisis in the state, accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government of trying to intimidate loyalists of Adams Oshiomhole, governor of the state, ahead of the 2015 elections.

“The EFCC has also invited us to Abuja on Monday.‎ You could see the intimidation,” Shaibu said.

“When the PDP lawmakers, including Momoh, forcefully broke into the assembly complex, the police did not invite them not to talk about arresting them.

“All the court orders that were issued against them, none were obeyed; the police never did anything to enforce court orders. But you can see we have been detained here since, for an issue we know nothing about.”