Civil society groups ask IGP to arrest PDP candidate, Maleye over 2007 election murder case »

… Says family seeking justice for their killed loved ones

Coalition of Civil Society Groups in Nigeria have called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun to arrest Kogi 2023 Gubernatorial candidate of the People Democratic Party, Dino Maleye alongside other individuals who participated in the Kabba/Bunu/ljumu Federal Constituency 2007 election murder of Hon. Victor Obafaiye And Alh Jimoh Asimi In Kabba/Bunu LGA.

Addressing a press conference, the convener, Wisdom Chinedu said after 16 years families of the deceased have refused to get closure as the souls of their breadwinners are yet to find rest because justice has not been served.

Wisdom also pointed out that the Civil Group also have from reliable sources that the Nigerian Police Authority carried out investigation on the said matter, but the public and victims of the dastardly attack are surprised that sixteen years down the lane, no report has been given by the Police and no single person as been apprehended for such a serious crime against humanity.

The group also made a call on the IGP to order the relevant authority involved in the investigation to make their report public or at best direct the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State Command and the DPO in charge of Kabba/Bunu to commence fresh investigation on the circumstances surrounding the death of the gentlemen, if the previous committee cannot be trusted, in the interest of justice.

Wisdom mentioned that the case 16 years down the line has been swept under the carpet without the known perpetrators being served justice. “Some of those who escaped that bloody attack are still alive today and are willing to offer the needed assistance with the investigation at the due time”.

According to him he said “From what we gathered and painstakingly took time to investigate, and as reported by Sahara Reporters and other news platforms, two persons namely Mr. Jimoh Asimi and one Hon. Obafaiye lost their lives in questionable circumstances, arising from the violence that greeted the conduct of the 2007 House of Representatives election in which Dino Melaye, now the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the November 11 election was declared winner and murder that happened a fortnight to cross-examination date of star witness against the case at the Election petition tribunal”.

He noted that It was also on record that the United States Department of Democracy, Human Rights and Labour report of 11th March, 2008 alluded to the murder of Mr Obafaiye in strange circumstances as reported by several news platforms in Nigeria and abroad.

He added that their recent outcry had since become even more necessary in view of the violent threats from the candidate of the PDP and his agents in the 2023 Nov. 11 governorship election in Kogi.

He said the Civil society have received report that suggest that he has paid some individuals who participated in the 2007 violence that led to the murder of the two gentlemen hence while they are seeking justice for previous deeds they do not want a repeat of the 2007 scenario especially at a moment when we should be consolidating on the gains of our democratic journey since 1999.