Molly Kilete 

Israel Sunny Goli, the alleged ring leader and mastermind of the attack on Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Kola Okunola in Twon, Brass, Bayelsa State, on February 24, would be charged to court any moment from now our correspondent reports.

He would be charged alongside two other people Tamarapreye, and Azi Newton.

Our correspondent gathered that investigation into the attack had been concluded and the file would be sent to the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), any moment from now. He would determine the appropriate charge for the offense they committed.

This is coming as powerful politicians in Bayelsa State and Abuja, have been lobbying highly-placed personalities to prevail on the Inspector General Of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, to set Goli, who is also the lawmaker in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly representing Brass Constituency 1, free.

The lawmaker, who incidentally emerged winner of the House of Representatives during the just concluded National Assembly election, was arrested alongside some of the people at their hideout in Abuja by men of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Intelligence Response Team.

Our correspondent also gathered that the suspects are currently in the custody at the IRT facility in Guzape.

Police sources said IGP Mohammed Adamu has rejected pressure from politicians to release the suspect who is a member of one of the major political parties. His decision is hinged on the way they humiliated DCP Kola Okunola, who was in Brass for election duty.

The police source said the IGP had vowed to deal with the suspects to serve as a deterrent to other political thugs who are in the habit of molesting the police at the slightest provocation.

“Since the arrest of the suspect and some of his gang members, there has been pressure from highly-placed politicians on the IGP, to set the man free and you know that cannot happen under the leadership of this IGP, because you cannot just disgrace his officer and get away from it.”

However, another police source said that trouble started during the collation of election result when some members from other political parties gained access into the collation room and began to interfere with the process. The situation which did not go down well with members of other political parties stirred confusion in the area and was reported to the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, Aminu, Saleh Pai, who ordered that the team should proceed to the state capital.

It was gathered that the angry youths refused to allow the DCP to enter the boat and before anyone knew what was happening, they began to harass and dragged him while some others recorded the entire incident and posted it on Facebook and it went virile.

 

Police sources also said that several guns, arms, and ammunition were recovered by the police in the area during a search operation.

The IGP, who has vowed to get to the root of the matter, soon after the video went virile, ordered immediate arrest of the culprits and comprehensive investigation and diligent prosecution of all persons involved in the attack.

His order led to arrest, of Goli, Tamarapreye and Azi Newton, in Abuja, while others are on the run.

The source said “we have done our own part of investigations and got testimonies of witnesses so it is the Attorney General of the Federation that would determine the appropriate charge against them.

“We can’t say, because sometimes you can call something an assault but the Attorney General might think that it is something else.

“We don’t know much about him or his past but he is right now in custody and you know the law is not sentimental; he might have done other things and gone away with them but this is the one that we have evidence to nail him with.”

Force Public Relations Officer. Frank Mba, could not be reached for comment as his numbers were switched off. Also, a text message sent to his mobile telephone was not responded to about the time this report was filed.