In his account made available to SaharaReporters on Friday, Esegbue mentioned that his leg was broken by the hoodlums when he mobilised policemen to issue a court process to them.
A former commissioner in Delta State, Leo Esegbue has accused the current deputy governor of the state, Monday Onyeme of mobilising thugs that attacked him and also injured four policemen.
In his account made available to SaharaReporters on Friday, Esegbue mentioned that his leg was broken by the hoodlums when he mobilised policemen to issue a court process to them.
He said, "I am a former Hon Commissioner and member of the Delta State executive Council who served in 2010. During my days in office, l showed compassion to widows, orphans and the less privileged ones which has earned me tremendous goodwill.
"During the last general elections, l was called upon to head our party's campaign Council in my ward while Mr Okenmo Tilije, the then Delta State Commissioner for finance under Governor Okowa was made the LGA coordinator.
“He was entrusted with all the money meant for the campaign in my LGA. Throughout the elections he didn't give me a kobo from the poll of the campaign funds given to him to support my campaign efforts, instead he choose to give the money to one of his friends one Mr Terry Otuya who is not a member of my wards campaign Council.
"I therefore had to use my personal funds and goodwill to deliver the party during the elections. After the swearing in of the governor and commencement of the new administration. News filtered in that my name was amongst those being considered for appointment as a commissioner.
“Immediately the next thing l saw was that Mr Terry who is Tilijes the LGA coordinator friend using his driver one Mr Kelvin and his other aides went on various social media handles including Facebook to go and publish my name defaming my name that l was a thief who stole PDP money meant for campaign to work for APC which never happened as l never received a kobo from anyone in cash or in my account.
“Based on their false allegations, my name was no longer sent to the House of Assembly for screening, instead Tilije's name was sent instead and he was assigned with the portfolio of finance ministry which he is occupying till date. I had to send my lawyers to write them demanding for a retraction which they failed to do so l had to write to the then CP, now AIG Wale Abass, who ordered a police unit to investigate the allegations.
"The suspects were arrested and they admitted to committing the crime and confessed that they were directed by Terry and others to defame me.
“The police with the instruction of the then CP directed they should be charged to court while their sponsor who refused to honour police several invitations was charged as being at large. The case was charged to the Federal High Court in Asaba and all the suspects were served hearing notices.
“The case has come up like five times and the suspects refused to come to court for arraignment. The judge after several adjustments directed the police prosecutor to make sure that they produce the suspects in the next sitting which was on the 29th of April.
"I had to mobilise the police to go and arrest the suspects so as to bring them to court on that day. The police insisted l come with them to show them the homes of the suspects. We eventually got there and were attacked. The suspects wounded the three policemen and used and axe to break my left leg.
“The police eventually arrested four of them and took them to Asaba only to get to Asaba and was told that the suspects called the Deputy Governor, Monday Onyeme who uses them as his thugs and he physically came to the police headquarters to meet the new CP who ordered they should all be released and they were all released to go home and they never showed up in the court on the 29th and the judge had to adjourn the case to the 29th May again.
“The police prosecutor is telling me he doesn't know what to do again since he is a serving officer and he doesn't want it to look as if he is fighting an institution he belongs to but that what is happening is they are trying to obstruct the prosecution of criminal justice.
"I was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre where l have been receiving treatment at my own cost. I got a lawyer to write to the CP reporting a case of attempted murder n assault occasioning harm which was stamped and received by the CP's office.
“Till now no action, obviously the CP has not assigned the case for any investigation. I am helplessly confused."