A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called on the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Magaji Bichi, to urgently investigate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over alleged complicity in the murder of a Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada Division in Rivers State, Bako Angbashim.
He also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to set up a judicial panel of inquiry to unravel the killing of the DPO in order to ensure justice for the dead.
Frank further called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged diversion of $300 million from Rivers State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
DAILY POST reports that Angbashim, a Superintendent of Police, had led his men to raid criminal hideouts in the Odemude community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of the state on September 8, when a dreaded cult group led by Okpara ambushed them, opened fire and eventually captured Angbashim, decapitated his body and filmed their action.
Frank made the call in a statement issued on Sunday while reacting to a claim by a member of the House of Representatives, Boma Goodhead, representing Asari-Toru Federal Constituency of Rivers State, that Wike was complicit in the killing of the DPO.
Goodhead had at a protest rally in Rivers State in support of Governor Siminilaye Fubara, accused Wike and some federal lawmakers of masterminding the killing of the DPO.
She also claimed that the Governor of Rivers State had caused the diversion of $300million given by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited meant for Ogoni cleanup and N9billion from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of of the state.
Against this background, Frank said the investigation has become necessary to determine the veracity or otherwise of the claims by Goodhead against Wike and two federal lawmakers from the state.
He noted: “If the President fails to take action or do the right thing, by arresting Wike and setting up a judicial panel of inquiry, I demand that every murder suspect in Nigeria that is already in prison or that is being tried should be set free.
“This is because nobody is above the law and we are all Nigerians. So we expect equal justice for all Nigerians.”
Frank also urged Wike to resign his position as minister and submit himself for probe over the alleged murder of the DPO and masterminding the diversion of $300 million given by the NNPCL for Ogoni cleanup and another N9 billion from the IGR of Rivers state.
He added: “The investigation must not be done in secret. It must be thorough and the findings made public because Hon Goodhead has offered to reveal further details when invited by any of the security agencies concerning the allegation.
“Justice must be given to the family of this police officer who was killed. This is not the time to protect or hide anybody.”