Police ‘arrest’ Kogi lawmaker, Sani

Men of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS) in Kogi have arrested Friday Sani, a member of the Kogi state house of assembly (PDP), representing the Igalamela/ Odolu constituency.

John Adele, The counsel to Sani, told journalists in Lokoja, capital of the state, on Saturday that the lawmaker was arrested along the Odolu-Nsukka road on Friday.

Adele said his client had gone Nsukka to make some purchase in readiness for the annual Odolu Day, which he is a chief promoter of.

The counsel said that the policemen shot at the tyres of his client’s vehicle, so as to be able to effect the arrest on what he described as “spurious allegations”.

He appealed to Solomon Arase, the inspector-general of police, to intervene and ensure the release of Sani, pending further investigations.

“We will not encourage him to flout the law. He is prepared to stand trial,” he said.

Also speaking on the issue, Isah Adejo, chairman of the PDP in the Igalamela/ Odolu local government area, alleged that the arrest was masterminded by his opponents in the April 11 state house of assembly election.

He said that the PDP would resist any attempt to deny Sani the mandate freely given to him by the people, adding that anyone aggrieved about the outcome of the election should seek redress at the election petitions tribunal.

Sunday Ogu, a member of the Odolu community, described the arrest of Sani on the eve of the annual Odolu Day as an “unfortunate and sad development”.

He appealed for the immediate release of Sani, whom he described as “a good community man,” saying his arrest had thrown the entire community into sorrow.

Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, the commissioner of police, failed to answer several phone calls made to get his reaction to the development.