Hon. Tajudeen Alade, Chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, has rejected claims of his impeachment, describing the alleged proceedings as a sham.
He revealed that suspected thugs recently invaded his office in an attempt to forcefully take over, prompting him to petition the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Alade said he had alerted the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Zone 5), the Edo State Commissioner of Police, and the Area Command in Igarra.
However, he lamented that none of the individuals mentioned in his petition had been invited for questioning.
In a statement from Alade’s legal counsel, the C.O. Osemeilu Law Firm, the chairman disclosed that about ten individuals, along with unidentified hoodlums, stormed his office, destroyed the doors, and looted personal and official belongings.
“Our client informed us that the thugs broke into his office, ransacked it, and carted away a desktop computer, four new laptops, personal belongings, and an undisclosed sum of money,” the petition read.
The incident reportedly occurred despite prior intelligence from the DSS suggesting an attack was imminent.
Alade said the Area Commander had directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to provide security, but the situation spiraled out of control.
Alade criticized the DPO for allegedly failing to prevent the looting, claiming video evidence showed police officers standing by as the vandalism unfolded.
“The DPO said they were overwhelmed by the crowd, but the video shows otherwise. The looting happened in their presence while they watched,” Alade stated.
He called on security agencies to investigate the incident, interrogate all individuals named in the petition, and ensure justice is served.
Alade reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of Akoko-Edo, dismissing the purported impeachment as a baseless attempt to undermine his leadership.