Police nab Benue Assembly member

By Uja Emmanuel, Makurdi

The police in Benue State have arrested a member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Jonathan Agbidye.

The lawmaker represents Katsina-Ala West Constituency.

He was nabbed for allegedly possessing a Toyota Hilux vehicle believed to belong to the late Justice Tine Tur.

The Nation gathered that a notorious kingpin and wanted man, Terwase Akwaza, alias Gana, who is also alleged to have a strong link with the All Progressives Congress (APC), allegedly sponsored Agbidye for the election “to represent him” in the House.

Gana, it was rumoured, had threatened that anyone who contested and defeated Agbidye would not remain alive to enjoy his tenure in the Assembly.

As a result of Gana’s threat, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Katsina-Ala who contested against Agbidye refused to file a petition against INEC’s declaration of the APC candidate as winner of the election.

Information has it that someone (name withheld) petitioned the Inspector-General of Police on the suspected criminal’s activities of Agbidye, including his ties with Gana.

The IGP, acting on the petition, according to sources, detailed his men to trail the Benue lawmaker and he was nabbed in possession of the alleged stolen Hilux vehicle.

Contacted, police spokesperson DSP Catherine Anene, said: “I am not aware of the arrest, but I know that the IGP Response Team is in Makurdi for special operations.”