The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday described as “conflicting” separate suspects? paraded by the State Security Service (SSS) and the Nigerian Police allegedly behind the gruesome murder of Comrade Olaitan Oyerinde, the Principal Private Secretary to Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole, in Benin, stressing the need for synergy between the two security agencies on the matter.
On Wednesday, the spokesperson of the SSS, Marilyn Ogar told reporters in Abuja that careless talk by Olaitan’s security guard led to his murder by the robbers who? invaded his residence at No.65, 2nd Ugbolor Road,GRA, Benin. The Police had previously paraded separate suspects on the murder.
NLC’s Deputy President, Comrade Promise Adewusi told LEADERSHIP that the separate parades exposed divisions in the workings of the? two security agencies.
Adewusi said the NLC was watching the unfolding? development with keen interest and would come out with an official position on the matter in due course.
He said that organised labour would not accept any attempt by individuals or groups to cover those behind the murder of the principal private secretary to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
“We are watching the recent development with keen interest with the SSS parading another six suspected armed robbers over the murder of comrade Olaitan.
“It is early to make an opinion but I think there is need for synergy between the police and SSS on the preliminary report of the investigation into the gruesome murder of the comrade Olaitan.”? Adewusi who is also general secretary of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) stated.
He added, “The Police and the SSS should be working together on this matter, for us we are watching and would soon come out with an official statement on the matter”.
Meanwhile, worried by the worsening health condition of Edo State based activist, Reverend David Ugolor in Police detention, his counsel, Olayiwola? Afoloabi yesterday petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar demanding his unconditional release following Wednesday parading by State Security Service, ( SSS), of the killers of the Principal Private? Secretary to Edo State Governor,? Adams Oshiomhole on May 4,? 2012.
Also Civil Society and community based Oganisations in Edo State yesterday marched to the SSS office in Benin to commend them for what they described as “ heroic achievement recorded by state security service in unmasking those behind the brutal murder of Comrade Olaitan”? and appealed for the immediate release of their principal.?
Ugolor was picked -up by plain cloth policemen in his first Circular road office on July 26, and is being detained at the Area command police station on Sapele road, Benin City.
But his lawyer in a petition to the IGP denied the suspect involvement or collaboration in the crime, declaring that: “The State Security Services (SSS) officials having paraded the actual killers of the slain Olaitan? Oyerinde, there is no legal basis to keep Rev. David Ugolor in police groaning custody any longer.
“We do not want to have a repeat of “BABA SUWE SAGA” when he was illegally detained in the custody of? the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and the court eventually awarded huge sum of money; which the agency is still battling to pay”.
In a related development, the Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday? gave the state Governor, Comrade? Adams Oshiomhole a 14-day ultimatum to tender unreserved apology to the party and Chief Tony Anenih, former chairman PDP Board of Trustees whom he had earlier accused of responsibility for the assassination? of his principal secretary, Comrade Olaitan.
