Murder of Oshiomhole’s aide: Suspect names activist as sponsor

Late Olaitan Oyerinde and Governor Adams Oshiomhole

 

• It’s an attempt to frame me, says Ugolor

There are indications that Benin-based activist, Rev David Ugolor , was arrested by the police at the weekend after one of the four suspects already in police custody allegedly named him as the sponsor of the recent murder of the Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde.

Ugolor is the Executive Director of the non-governmental organisation-African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ).

Oyerinde was murdered in his Benin residence on May 4 by four gunmen.

The police recently announced the arrest of four men in connection with the murder only for them to pick up Ugolor, a close friend of Oyerinde on Friday.

Ugolor was the last person with Oyerinde before his assailants struck and the first to be contacted by the victim’s wife to assist in carrying him to the hospital after the fatal attack.

One of the four suspects reportedly told police interrogators that Ugolor sent them to kill Oyerinde,  prompting the police to arrest him at his First East Circular Road office.

They searched the office and later his residence.

 Ugolor has denied having a hand in the murder of his friend saying he is being framed up.

 The Programme/Policy Officer of ANEEJ, Mr. Innocent Edemhanria in a statement in Benin said the  relationship that existed between the deceased and Ugolor was so deep that one could never have plotted  killing the other .

He said: “The suspect who is accusing David Ugolor is a northerner and is completely unknown to Rev. David Ugolor, colleagues and friends. At the moment, the police are still holding on to David as they carry out their investigations on the allegation we consider spurious.

 “We suspect strongly that somebody high up somewhere is framing up our Executive Director, Rev. David Ugolor over the murder of the personal aide to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

“Rev. David Ugolor is a life saver, not a taker, as his natural penchant for poverty eradication, enlarging the voice of the voiceless, assisting the poor and needy is unparallel in his almost twenty-five years of effective and result-oriented activism.”