Police quiz Edo PDP chairman, Orbih, over allegation of diversion of IDPs’ rice

Edo State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Dan Orbih, has been quizzed by the police over his allegation that the state government diverted bags of rice meant for Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

Orbih had alleged that over 4,000 bags of rice donated by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to IDPs at Ohogua Village in Ovia North East Local Council were diverted.

He was invited for questioning by the state Commissioner of Police (CP), Babatunde Kokumo, based on a petition by Governor Godwin Obaseki on the need for the police to make him present facts of the allegation.

Obaseki had in the petition signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, alleged that Orbih in a radio interview ‘falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state.’

In the petition, the state government alleged that Orbih further claimed that 300 bags of rice were diverted to a certain senator in Ondo State.

Orbih, with the party’s governorship candidate in the 2016 governorship election, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu and a large crowd of supporters of the party, arrived at the police command at about 10:17 a.m.

It was learnt that Orbih made a statement and was questioned for several hours by investigative police officers.

Meanwhile, Orbih said his statement to the security agency substantiated his claims.

He said: “From my own statement, it has been well established that the government of Edo State misappropriated the rice meant for the IDPs. I also want to commend the Edo State Police Command for the mature and professional way they have handled this issue.

“I think these are very weighty allegations; in my own opinion, it is being put forward by the government to incite members of the public against the PDP in Edo State.”