Police arrest chief whip of Oyo State House of Assembly in connection with murder of lawmaker

POLICE have arrested the chief whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly Hon Wasiu Akinmoyede in connection with the recent murder of a member of the Federal House of Representatives Hon Temitope Olatoye popularly known as Sugar.

Hon Olatoye, who ran for senator two weeks ago as the candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), was shot dead last Saturday during the Oyo State governorship elections. Back in 2015, he was elected into the House of Representatives as a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but defected to stand against the party in this year's National Assembly elections.

Shot in the head by suspected political thugs in the Lalupon area of Ibadan, Hon Olatoye died in the intensive care unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. UCH spokesman Toye Akinrinlola, said that while in the intensive care unit, doctors battled in vain to save his life and he eventually died around 7.45pm last Saturday.

It is believed that some political thugs of a rival politician in the constituency carried out the attack on the lawmaker who was returning from his village where he had gone to exercise his franchise when he was ambushed. Swiftly moving into action, the Oyo State Police Command have arrested Hon Akinmoyede, bringing to two the number of people held in connection with the murder.

Hon Olatoye was representing the Lagelu/Akinyele federal constituency in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, while Hon Akinmoyede represents Lagelu in the Oyo State House of Assembly. Hon Olagunju Ojo, the speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly confirmed the arrest, pointing out that the House was notified through a letter.

Hon Ojo said: “I am not aware that he has been taken to Abuja. I am only aware that he is under investigation but I am not aware whether he has been taken to Abuja or not.”