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SARS Arrests Delta Council Boss For Demolishing Opponent’s N100m Property

The Chairman of Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State, Mr. Fred Ofume, was, on Monday, arrested by men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, (SARS) for allegedly ordering the demolition of property valued at N100 million. The property, situated at Agbor, headquarters of the local council, was owned by Mr. Alex Ikpeazu, who recently defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Before the demolition, a senior police officer at the Delta State Police Command Headquarters in Asaba told SaharaReporters, Mr. Ikpeazu had lodged many complaints about threats to his life by Mr. Ofume with the Delta State Police Command. The command, however, took no action.

The passivity of the Police in Delta State, explained the officer, forced Mr. Ikpeazu to forward a petition, through his lawyers, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja, which ordered the council boss’ arrest by SARS.

Narrating his ordeal, Mr. Ikpeazu, said his defection to the APC was followed by threats and intimidation from Mr. Ofume and eventually, the demolition of his property.

"Mr. Ofume, accompanied by Messrs. Francis Eki,  Chuks Irabor and Francis Ogini, invaded my property with hired policemen, who came without the knowledge of the Divisional Police Officer of Agbor Police Division. After the invasion, Mr. Ofume stationed heavily armed thugs at the entrance of my premises, with a standing order to kill me. Apart from the threat, the Council Chairman and his gang mounted a sign post at the entrance of my premises with the inscription, ‘’Local Government’’, alleged Mr. Ikpeazu.

While the council boss has been arrested, Mr. Ikpeazu has called on the Police to immediately investigate the matter and prosecute Mr. Ofume.

In his petition addressed to the Deputy Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Ikpeazu claimed that he and his tenants were chased out of their offices in the demolished building. He also claimed that the land on which the property stood was legally acquired and has a valid Certificate of Occupancy. He equally said that he has been paying ground rent to the Delta State government and had no problem with Mr. Ofume until he quit the PDP.

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CRIME