The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed claims of an assassination attempt on the factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Edison Ehie.
The police described what happened at Ehie’s residence as a routine police patrol.
The state Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu stated this while fielding questions from newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday.
Armed men dressed in police uniforms had invaded Ehie’s residence in Port Harcourt around 11pm on Sunday.
Disu said contrary to claims, preliminary investigations did not reveal any attempt to assassinate the lawmaker.
He, however, asked the lawmaker to assist the police with any other information about the incident.
He said, “The preliminary investigation we have done so far this morning has not revealed any assassination attempt.
“All I knew was that police officers were on convoy patrol. It is a routine thing and we have made frantic efforts to get across to the leader to give us any information he has so that we can include it to what we already have.
“So far so good; nothing to worry about. My plea to him and every other person is if there is any complaint, my number is going to be made public. They should call me and I will quickly look into it. For now, I have not received any information like that.”
A police van has been stationed at Ehie’s residence
Earlier on Monday, a statement signed by Ken Uchendu, said to be Legislative Correspondent of the State House of Assembly and sent to newsmen described the attack as an assassination attempt.
It disclosed that footage of the act as captured by CCTV cameras would be made public for confirmation and record purposes.
The statement further said the lawmaker’s security details had repelled the invaders and prevented them from gaining entrance into the compound.
Ehie, who was the Leader of the State House of Assembly, had announced himself as the House Speaker in the wake of the crisis that rocked the state legislature.
About 24 lawmakers had suspended Ehie as House leader, alongside two other members of the House.
Ehie, after announcing himself as the Speaker last month, told newsmen that 26 lawmakers unanimously elected him as the Speaker, even as he announced the suspension of some of his colleagues.
The alleged attack on Ehie’s residence came after 27 lawmakers led by House Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, went to Abuja for a retreat, which the latter described as capacity building.
