Lekki-Ikoyi Bridge: LASG Plans To Assassinate Me –Adegoruwa, You’re A Liar -LASG

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

Rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa says the Lagos State Government masterminded his attempted assassination because of his fight for the abrogation of toll collection on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge.

But the Lagos State Government has branded Adegoruwa a liar, saying government could not have had a hand in his attempted murder on Sunday, urging the Lagos State Commissioner of police to investigate the matter.

Adegoruwa, in a press statement issued on Monday said about eight gunmen had invaded his house at Plots 1-3, Ebun-Olu Adegbouruwa Lane, Itedo, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos around 3 am and attempted to assassinate him.

“They were well armed with short guns. They scaled through my fence, tied my security man and my driver, at my gatehouse. They asked if the compound belonged to Adegboruwa, if Adegboruwa had a mobile police guard, if Adegboruwa lived alone or had tenants, and whether my neighbour had policemen on patrol.

“They then started to demolish my window burglaries; they scaled upstairs to my terrace, to break into my living room upstairs, by which time I had already called for help, from the neighbours and from the police. They then tried to gain entrance into my kitchen downstairs, without success. They then descended upon my security man and driver, beat them up mercilessly and started uprooting my burglary with the heavy instruments that they brought.

“It was at this point that the police arrived, but the police could not gain entrance into my compound, because my security man had been tied. I saw the armed men myself from my location upstairs. They looked very mean and determined, possibly not the usual armed robbers after material things,’ he said.

Adegoroye said “I do believe that this was an assassination attempt upon my life, by the enemies of the people of the masses of Nigeria, and in particular the good people of Lagos State, in the Lekki-Ajah axis. One of my neighbours has since confirmed that he actually saw a car that dropped off these armed men around my fence at about 2a.m. They were sent on specific instructions.

“Nigerians will recall that on March 27, 2014, the Federal High Court, Lagos, delivered judgement in my case with Lagos State to the extent that collection of toll fee on the Lekki Ikoyi bridge is illegal. It was just yesterday, Monday April 14, 2014, that I argued against the request by Lagos State, to stay the execution of the said judgment. Thus, this is just a case of the witch cried yesterday and the child died today,” he stated.

According to him, “I believe that those who have vested interests in the continued collection of the illegal toll fee are at the bottom of this assassination attempt, as a way of discouraging me or stopping my legitimate struggle against illegality, oppression and all undemocratic tendencies of our governments. I will not give up on this struggle, no matter the intimidation and harassment that I may face. It is a cause that cannot be stopped.

“Consequently, I call on Nigerians to hold the Lagos State Government and all those who have vested interests in the Lekki Ikoyi bridge toll fee, responsible for any harm that may come my way. Our government must be open to legitimate opposition and transparency in their affairs. It is not by attempting to snuff the life out of people, that government will escape its statutory accountability to the people. My life is in the hands of God, therefore I do not fear what man can do to me. I know that ultimately, those who are now after my life, will one day face the Supreme Court of God, where they will have to account for all their misdeeds, including their corruption and mis-governance.’

Replying Adegoruwa, the Lagos State Government wrote to the Commissioner of Police to investigate the matter as government has no hand in the attempted murder.

According to the letter written by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, “it is a fact that Mr. Adegboruwa is a litigant in a case involving the State Government. The case is currently pending before both the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court.

“The State Government, as a consistent champion of rule of law and good governance, considers it preposterous that a legal practitioner of Mr. Adegboruwa’s standing, would level such a grievous and unsubstantiated allegation against the Lagos State Government without any factual or empirical investigation being conducted, and without providing a shred of evidence in support of his claim.

“Nevertheless, the safety and security of every single member of this society is of great concern to our Government. Having regard to the seriousness of the allegation of Mr. Adegboruwa, I hereby respectfully request your offices to please investigate the allegation for the purpose of establishing veracity of same and apprehension of the alleged assailants.

Ipaye said it would be apprrciated if the outcome of the investigation was made public, saying that copies of the letter had been forwarded to the Director of the State Security Service; the State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps for their information and necessary actions.