‘Thugs’ block suspended Edo LGA boss from accessing office

Suspected thugs on Monday prevented Tom Obaseki, chairman of Oredo LGA in Edo state, from accessing his office at the secretariat.

The men, wielding cudgels and other weapons, were seen at strategic places at the Oredo LGA secretariat in Benin city.

They also chanted war songs at the secretariat as a crowd formed.

Obaseki said the hoodlums hindered him from going about his task. He also called on security agencies to wade in and forestall a recurrence.

“I came here to continue my work as elected chairman of Oredo Local Government. I met a whole lot of thugs who have already overtaken the council,” he said.

“This is a very disturbing trend. We are calling on the security agencies to arrest the situation. What is important is that we have a restraining order.”

BACKGROUND

The development comes days after the Edo house of assembly suspended council chairpersons and their deputies for two months over alleged gross misconduct.

Blessing Agbebaku, speaker of the house, had said Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, wrote a petition to the assembly regarding the chairpersons’ refusal to submit the financial records of their councils to the state government.

Reacting to the development, Lateef Fagbemi, attorney-general of the federation, said state houses of assembly have no powers to suspend or remove council chairpersons.

Last Friday, a high court in Edo ordered the reinstatement of the suspended local government chairpersons and their deputies.

Efe Ikponmwonba, the presiding judge, restrained Okpebholo and the attorney-general of the state from acting on the resolution of the Edo house of assembly.