Ex-Edo dep speaker petitions AIG over damage to N1.7m property

Uchechukwu Olisah, Benin City - 25.01.2008

Former deputy speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Mr. Fred Omoigberai, has petitioned the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) in charge of Zone Five over alleged destruction of his N1.7 million property by member representing the state at the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Board, Mr. Matthew Iduoriyekemwen.

But Iduoriyekemwen, who was Omoigberai’s colleague in the last Assembly, describe the allegation as false and described the petition as a way of covering up the issues surrounding the property which was in dispute between the Omoigberai and one Mr. Eghosa Isibor.

Both Omoigberai and Iduoriyekemwen spoke to newsmen on Thursday in Benin City. Omoigberai alleged in the petition that the NDDC commissioner had last Saturday, in the company of other persons, destroyed the property’s perimeter fence valued at N120,000.

But Iduoriyekemwen said he had no personal problem with Omoigberai to warrant his destruction of the latter’s property, adding that if Omoigberai had a problem with the people he bought the property from, he should go and sort it out with them.

He explained that the only connection he had with Omoigberai as regards the disputed property was that he advised the lawmaker not to buy the property from persons who had no rightful claim to it as well as no right to sell it as it was against Benin customary law.