Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Barrister Odefa Obasi Odefa
My house under siege by Ebubeagu operatives, Ebonyi factional Deputy Speaker alleges
[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]
Embattled factional Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Odefa Obasi Odefa, Wednesday night alleged that operatives of Ebubeagu security had laid siege to his residence in Abakaliki, capital of the state.
Odefa who stated this in a phone interview with our Reporter, alleged that the armed operatives of the security outfit in their numbers were trying to gain entrance into his house located off Ogbaga avenue.
He said his life and that of his family members and political associates were in danger.
But the Consultant on Security to the state government Stanley Okoro Emegha debunked the allegations, saying that the operatives were deployed across the state to checkmate influx of thugs being imported into the state members of the opposition.
Emegha said the government got intelligence that political opponents were importing thugs into the State.
“You know, our operatives are normally deployed to virtually every major street in the capital. I am sure they are on your street too. Or don’t you see them every evening and night?
“They have always deployed to that area because a lot of high profile persons leave around there, coupled with some hotels and other public places around that area”.
“We are not going to stop doing our duty because he has small issue with his colleagues. We are securing people leaving at the streets around that neighborhood. He is not the only person leaving there.
Emegha also denied that the Ebeubagu operatives were trying to gain entrance into Odefa’s house.
“The gateman is there discussing with the operatives as he normally does every other evening when they deploy to that area. So the house is not under lock and key and we are not interested in gaining entrance.
“Odefa and his family are not under arrest as he has not committed any crime to the best of my knowledge. The issue he had with his colleagues are their problem. He should not drag Ebubeagu into it. We are not interested, our only interest is to protect lives sand properties”, he said.
Odefa’s seat was declared vacant by the House of Assembly on Monday after the Speaker, Francis Nwifuru read a letter wherein he announced his resignation as a member of the House.
The House thereafter elected Ogbonnaya Ịkọrọ as the new deputy speaker.
But Odefa insisted that he never wrote the said resignation letter, insisting that he is still the deputy speaker.
