BENIN-CITY-A businessman Hon. Nyamali Alfred whose heavy duty drilling machine was reportedly vandalized and the perpetrators apprehended by police in Benin, have appealed to the Commissioner of Police, the state government and relevant authorities to come to his aid with a view to ensuring that justice is done in the case now before the Benin Area Commander in the state capital.
Hon. Nyamali Alfred made the appeal while alleging that the police may have compromised in their investigation as the sudden release of the truck used for the operation and the suspects caught in the criminal act, calls for concern.
He further stated that “when I got to the station, to my dismay I saw that the truck that they used in conveying my equipment is no more there and the men involved in the act have been released.
“I asked why the release? They said it was directive.
“I ran to the CP who asked me to write a petition, which I did and the case transferred to the office of the Area Command”.
Continuing, Hon. Ayamali stated that “This is why I cry out, I want the government, the CP, AIG, the governor of the state and all relevant power that be to please come to my aid.
“I am a businessman, this equipment that was taken from me is my source of livelihood. I don’t know where to start from, nobody is telling me anything! No money, no rig? Where do I start from? I want justice, please”.
He however revealed that the said rig worth several millions of Naira and was last month towed from Central Road, Benin where it was parked, and taken to a hidden spot behind Palm House building, dismantled, crane-loaded into a waiting truck as police swooped on the suspects at the verge of take-off.
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Edo Police Command DSP Stephen Onwochei stated that denied any compromise by the Police.
DSP Onwochei added that during investigation a man who sold the disputed rig came forward with documents with which he bought in auction alleged to have been conducted by someone with Edo State Ministry of Transport.
He equally said that since those arrested were found to have bought with documentary evidence, they were released and the truck also released on bond.
“So in the end the man who took them there came forward to say yes he bought the rig from auction, he actually said that one Ayo in the Ministry of Transport was the coordinator of the auction there, and that is why he took the men there to dismantle the rig and that he hired the Crain.
“The Ministry was contacted the Ayo was contacted and Ayo confirmed that there was an auction and that the vehicle was recovered and parked along the road but over time as no one came forward so they declared it abandoned property and sold on auction after observing the rules stipulated in the laws for auction sales”. DSP Onwochei noted.
He stated further that within the same period, coincidentally another man came forward with the original document of the rig claiming also to be the owner of the equipment.
“We then called the complainant, complainant come oh! Two persons have come in the line claiming ownership, you too, now that you are claiming adversary there is the need for you to prove your own ownership, go and bring your own document.
“And the man left, since then he did not come back again….. the Honourable’s refusal to show up at the Area Commander office has a kind of slowed down investigation”. He stated.
He, however disclosed that the dismantled rig is in police custody as investigation continues.