Lawmakers brother held over alleged attempted murder of candidate

THE Cross River State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of the younger brother and another relative of the member representing Ikom 1 State Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Agbiji Mgbe Agbiji, over allegations of torture, threat to life and attempted murder of a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) candidate, Mr. Odey Oyama, during the April 26 House of Assembly election.The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Etim Dickson, who confirmed the arrest of Samuel Agbiji and Ogbaji Mkpama Williams, said they would soon be charged to court for attempted murder and snatching of the victims handset.He said the suspects were arrested at Okuni Village in Ikom Local Council Area and taken to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ikom, before they were eventually transferred to the State CID, Calabar, for interrogation and prosecution.Oyama, had in a petition he sent to the state Police Commissioner, claimed that the duo were sponsored to attack him and scare away his supporters during the elections.Oyamas petition, which was copied the state Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, Dr. Mike Ozekhome (SAN), state Chairman of CPC, Mr. Austine Asuquo, reads in part: It is regrettable that during the elections, Agbiji Mgbe Agbiji, member representing Ikom 1 State Constituency, sent his brother and other cult members at large who attacked me, tortured, brutalised and inflicted injuries on me for the purpose of destroying vital evidence I had in my possession to present at the tribunal.He alleged that the attack elicited tension and fear all over the constituency, causing his teeming supporters, both men and women, to flee and abandon the voting and ultimately refrain from voting.He added that preventing his supporters from freely using their votes was clearly in breach of Section 131, sub-section C of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended. 
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