Tunde Sanni
14 November 2007
Ibadan — Controversial Ibadan politician, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, yesterday headed to Abuja for an appointment with the Acting Inspector-General of Police; Mr. Mike Okiro.It was in connection with the myriad of complaints on the political violence in Oyo State for sometime now.
Okiro had a forthnight ago, ordered the controversial politician to report at the Force Headquarters, Abuja .This is to enable him respond to a plethora of complaints and petitions written against him by some notable indigenes of the state, including a prominent traditional ruler in the state.
The myriad of complaints peaked with the alarm raised by Director General of the National Agency for Food, Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Dora Akunyili that Adedibu was deploring thugs to hamper her agency anti-counterfeit drug war in the state.
Akunyili at the zonal sensitisation programme of NAFDAC in Ibadan last month, raised an alarm that Adedibu was obstructing the agency 's officials from performing their duties.
The NAFDAC boss has pointed to the Kollington Fisheries which the Adedibu terror gang re-opened after officials of the agency had sealed off the company for engaging in counterfeit drug business.
However the Adedibu saga, according to THISDAY checks, almost run the command headship into trouble as the police commissioner, Udom Ekpoudom passed a clean bill of health on the PDP chieftain, berating the Akunyili for raising unsubstantiated allegation against Adedibu.
Checks revealed that the NAFDAC boss has protested Ekpoudom clean bill to the police chief which led to a verbal reprisal on the state police boss by the police high command. Ekpoudom last week through the command spokesperson, Bisi Okuwobi denied ever making the statement.
Aside from Akunyili, journalists and non-journalists of the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation (BCOS) last Monday petitioned the IG over the May 23 attack on the three transmitting stations in the state allegedly by supporters of Adedibu, where over 19 people were injured and money and properties stolen.
Similarly, a former director of Odu'a Investment Limited, Alhaji Olawale Oladoja, whose official car was forcefully seized from him by suspected thugs working for Adedibu, also petitioned the police hierarchy, alleging assassination attempt and armed robbery attack on him at the Agodi Praying Ground after observing his prayer to mark the end of the Ramadan festival.
In his petition, addressed to Okiro, the embattled Odu'a former director had challenged the police hierarchy to prove that they were actually championing the rule of law crusade of President Umaru Musa Yar'adua by investigating his supposed abduction by Adedibu's boys, the recovery of his stolen car from Adedibu's house as well as the twist in his case where he was later arraigned in court for car stealing and briefly remanded at Agodi prison before his lawyer secured his bail.
Also, the Iyalode of Ibadan, High Chief Aminat Abiodun was said to have cried out to the police top hierarchy on the demolition of her 32-stalls by thugs supervised by Adedibu in June for her failure to support the political interest of the PDP chieftain.
The management of Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL) had also petitioned the police over the encroachment on its land at Molete area of the ancient city, which Adedibu was said to have converted to his personal use as extension of his sprawling residence on the excuse that he bidded for the land during the privatization of NITEL and eventually paid N71 million for the property.
The IGP order inviting Adedibu to Abuja then was contained in a letter dated October 31, 2007 and signed by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Austin Obaedo.
Curiously, the controversial politician ignored the invitation, claiming that he did not receive any letter inviting him to the Abuja office of the police chief.
The interrogation of the controversial politician could not come up last week as the police chief, was out of the country for an INTERPOL conference.
Okiro was said to have personally indicated interest in quizzing the maverick politician and directed him to report when he was back in the country.
Police sources told THISDAY that Adedibu was expected to have reported at the force headquarters last week Thursday but again spurned the invitation, leading to a formal report about him to the presidency.
The source added that the presidency reportedly reached the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to prevail on the PDP chieftain to respond to the IGP invitation in his own interest.
Unconfirmed reports hinted that the former president visit to the Molete country home of the PDP chieftain was part of the plot to make Adedibu respond to the police chief invitation honorably.
Though the two politicians went into private discussions, the former president described him as the father of the party was meant to boost him to attend the parley with Okiro.
Adedibu could not be reached in his Molete home when THISDAY called but a source who pleaded anonymity confirmed that he left for Abuja in the early hours of the day but the aide would not want to be drawn into controversy as to his mission.
Contacted, the police commissioner, Ekpoudom confirmed that the controversial politician was already in Abuja for a chat with the IGP.
He added that Adedibu since last week Thursday was being expected by his boss but declined to comment on his refusal to go for the invitation last week Thusrday
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