Vincent Adekoye
8 October 2008
Benin — The face-off between the two major factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State over the judgment of the Edo State Local Government election tribunal, assumed a frightening dimension yesterday, following the bombing of the official residence of the chairman of the tribunal, Justice Roland Amaize, by unknown persons.
Daily Champion learnt that the bomb was planted in the private bedroom of the judge. No life was lost in the incident though the whereabouts of the embattled judge and his wife could not be ascertained as at press time. Many believe they may have been abducted.
However, their personal belongings including credentials, clothes, computers and electronics, and legal papers were all razed down in the inferno that resulted from the bomb explosion. He was expected to deliver judgment on petitions on the local government poll in the state this week.
Reacting, the Edo State police commissioner, Mr. Chris Dega, who cut short his annual leave and visited the scene of the incident, said the command would get to the root of the matter. He said no individual would be allowed to turn the state into a threatre of war.
He ordered his men to condone off the house so as to facilitate police investigation.
Also, the state governor, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, while reacting to the explosion, called on the state police command to carry out a thorough investigation on the matter.
A one-page statement signed by his chief press secretary, Mr. Dan Aigbavboa, and made available to newsmen in Benin yesterday, said: "Edo State governor, Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, has expressed shock and sadness over the fire incident which razed down the official residence of Hon. Justice Roland Amaize of the state High Court of Justice, Benin city last night.
"The fire reportedly destroyed the building and several valuable personal effects.
"The governor on behalf of the state government sympathizes with the family of the Hon. Justice Amaize over the sad and painful incident. He is however grateful to God that no life was lost in the inferno.
"In the meantime, Governor Osunbor has directed the state police command to carry out a thorough investigation to unravel the cause of the fire" the statement said.
It would be recalled that Justice Amaize has been in the limelight since August 1, 2008 following the judgment of the Edo state local government election tribunal that sacked three local government chairmen in the state.
The affected councils were Esan Central, Egor and Ikpoba Okha local government Councils.
Benin had not known peace since the removal of Mr. Ehi Ehgaravba of the Egor local government who was replaced with Mr. Crosby Eribo and Mr. O. Osazuwa of Ikpoba Okha local government who was later to be replaced by Mr. Itoha Erhabor.
Few hours after the ruling, Justice Amaize was said to have received some death threats from unknown persons.
Some of the messages that were made available to newsmen in Benin read: "It is good you killed yourself today. You will bury your children. Let Isaiah protect you, shameless judge. You are dead already."
Justice Amaize was said to have written a petition alerting the state government and the Edo state police command on plans by some unknown persons to kill him.
While the police ignored his petition, the state governor responded by warning politicians in the state to ensure peace in line with democratic rules and norms.
A source at the official residence of the judge located at No 6 Delta Crescent off Ikpopan road, G.R.A, Benin City, told Daily Champion that the explosion occurred around 10.35 pm when he was about stepping into his bedroom.
It was gathered that the judge was at the sitting room watching a programme on his television till about 10.33pm.
The source said as he was about entering his bedroom when something fell into the room from the top and what followed was great explosion that shook the foundation of the storey building.
"We thought that the whole world was about to come down because the explosion was very devastative. It even shook our house and the next thing we saw was a ball of fire that engulfed the entire compound.
God was really on the side of the couple because they may have been the target" one of the neighbors who pleaded anonymity told newsmen.
When Daily Champion got to the scene of the incident, it gathered that apart from the top floor of the House that was completely razed down before men of the fire fighting department of the Edo state came there to put the fire out, the impact of the explosion brought down a section of the house, wife the other side the foundation of the House was shattered.
The impact of the explosion also scattered the kitchen and apartment of the domestic staff of the judge situated a few metres away from the main building.
As at the time of filing this report, a section of the bedroom of the judge was still burning.
Leader of the fire fighting department, Mr. Oshiokpehkhai Mike, said they were alerted around 10.45 pm and that the fire was so much that they were forced to repel it for about three times before the situation could be brought under control.
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