The National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, who was arrested on Wednesday in Benin City, the Edo State capital, alongside other party members, has regained freedom.
Abure and the Edo State chairman of the party, Mr Kelly Ogbaloi were arrested by a combined team of Nigeria Police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) following a petition by the LP Youth Leader, Comrade Eragbe Anselm Aphimia, who is reportedly loyal to the self-acclaimed factional chairman of the party, Lamidi Apapa.
The youth leader petitioned the CP alleging that he was attacked by some party members in December 2023.
Abure was forcefully arrested barely 48 hours to the party’s primary election ahead of the September 21 gubernatorial polls in the State.
The LP national chairman, who was released on Wednesday night on bail, addressed some of his supporters on Thursday morning, saying: “Let me thank all of you for your solidarity and support. We have been facing several battles since the last election ended.
“Yesterday, we were making arrangements for the primaries and the Police swamped on us, arrested us, over what I will not discuss now because investigation is still going on.
“I must, however, state clearly that following several interventions, they have graciously released me on bail.”
However the Spokesperson of the Zone 5 Nigeria Police Command covering Edo and Delta States, Tijani Momoh, said Abure and the others were arrested for alleged conspiracy, brutal assault, attempted murder, robbery, grievous harm, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The statement read: “The arrest follows a petition addressed to the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Kayode Egbetokun, which was endorsed by Office of the IG to the AIG Zone 5, Benin, for investigation.
“Detectives of Zone 5, upon surveillance and with warrants of arrest, apprehended Abure, Ogbaloi and others with a pump-action gun and three rounds of live ammunition. It is expedient to state that contrary to false narratives on the social media, Abure was not assaulted by the police detectives.
“While effecting the arrest, some persons with Abure obstructed the detectives and made Abure sit on the ground to curry sympathy from the public.
“The AIG Zone 5 Headquarters, Benin City, Arungwa Nwazue, has directed speedy investigation into the matter, and anyone found culpable will be arraigned in court.”
But the pro-All Progressive Congress (APC) Lamidi Apapa group said Abure was arrested in connection with alleged forgery and perjury, according to a statement by the faction’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi.
The statement reads: “Abure’s arrest today (yesterday) was in connection with the police investigation report that indicted and established a prima facie case of forgery, perjury and criminal conspiracy over his involvement in the forgery of the signature of a FCT High Court Judge, Commissioners of Oath, and generating his own receipts from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“His arrest is also connected to the arson and attempted murder of our National Youth Leader.”