Ezekiel describes Okubo as pathological liar, unrepentant criminal. •Urges him to submit to security agents for investigation

By Osaro Michael, Benin

The Concerned Sons and Daughters of Riverine Communities, Edo state, has described ex-agitator Okubo as a pathological liar and unrepentant criminal who deserved to die in jail.

This was contained in a statement signed by the spokesman of the group Comrade Daniel Ezekiel and a copy was sent to newsmen on Thursday.

Ezekiel dismissed allegations from Okubo and his co-travellers that he (Ezekiel) ran away from DSS detention centre, adding that he had no reason to run away from security agencies invitations, because he wasn’t a criminal like Okubo and his gang.

He further narrated that he had submitted a petition to the same DSS to invite himself and Okubo over the investigation into the criminal activities of Robert.

Ezekiel said it was laughable that Okubo whose CV of criminal records were not just in the public domain, but also with security agencies calling himself a crime fighter.

The statement said, “It is on record that kidnapping was alien to Edo State until 2007 when Okubo and his boys from the riverine communities carried out the first kidnapping in the state, courtesy of a South African lady, VICKY. Since then up to this moment,it has been one crime to another be it by him directly or sending his boys to carry it out like the one that took place in Gelegele and Ekewan communities 3 weeks ago.

“A man that calls himself a crime fighter dragged me to court in 2020 for defamation of character, as if he had any. For a year that the case went ,he didn’t come to court for one day, until the judge out of anger threw out the case that how can a complaint be absent in his own case. Not ending it there, a fine of 100,000 naira was awarded against him, which up to this moment he is yet to pay me.

“In 2022, he used his elder brother ,Timi Robert ,to write a petition to Abuja, August 2022, alleging me and Hon. Godstime Ogidigba of being in possession of firearms,which led to our arrest by the Inspector general of the police tactical unit, STS. Then commander of the unit, now retired Kolo Yusuf, after listening to how l gave background of Okubo numerous criminal activities, that his petition was a cook and bull story to rubbish us for standing against his brigandage acts. Immediately he directed that Okubo should be invited. A man who prides himself as a crime fighter refused to honor his own petition, having waited for him for over 2 weeks, without coming, Koko directed that the matter be returned to Edo State.

“The case is in court, a crime fighter has not showed up for once since the case kicked off 2 years ago. For a year and 6 months that he ran away to exile when police wanted to arrest him, the riverine experienced absolute peace, law, security and order, but since his return when present government came in, kidnapping, sea piracy, forceful seizure of people’s properties, illegal invasion of Okomu national Forest and all manners of criminal activities has returned. A man is not judged by his words,but by his actions, Okubo’s activities are the opposite of what he said.

“It is also ridiculous for him to have said that concerned sons and daughters of the riverine area are not known and don’t exist. In January this year he wanted to use some people as covered to invade the national Park forest, so we sent a petition to Mr. President, Governor and other relevant agencies, who swung into action immediately, and stopped the move.

“Two months ago, this same miscreant and his terrorist boys wanted to use a third party to lobby the Edo state government to carry out logging in what is known as a free area not too far from Okomu national Forest. Sons and daughters stopped it because we knew that it was a plot to invade the national Park. If the highest level of authority in Nigeria, His Excellency President Bola Tinubu, Edo state Governor, His Excellency Monday Okpebholo and all the security agencies in the state knows the body, so who is this barbarian, vampire and dark mind to say we don’t exist.

“I have no reason to run away from security agencies invitations, because I am not a criminal like him, not from DSS being my constituency have been in their custody for 2 years.
To buttress my assertion regards his lie that l am not on the run ,l have submitted a petition to the same DSS so that both of us face each other, and let whoever is found wanting between be sent to prison at the end of their investigation.

“Finally, Robert Okubo has inflicted so much pain on our people, national Park forest and Edo state in general, which he must pay for, no matter how long it takes”.