- By Ezenwa Hart
A trader, Mrs. Oghosa Ejemai, who lost her seven-week-old
pregnancy after an alleged attack by officials of the Edo State government, has
on Wednesday threatened to sue the State Government for the sum of N100 million
for assault.
Mrs Ejemai also claimed to have sustained injuries, as well
as lost her goods during the alleged attack. She singled out the State
Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Isimeme Iriogbe as the one who supervised her
alleged beating and assault along with his staff.
She explained that she was in her shop at 14, Mission Road,
Benin City, at about 5:00p.m. on February 2, 2016, when some people led by the
Commissioner stormed her shop and started packing her wares, adding that, in an
attempt to prevent the commissioner and his team from taking her goods, she was
slapped and hit.
"They tried to push me into a vehicle, hit my head and fired
shots into the air. People came to my aid that day. I was taken to the Benin
Central Hospital after which I reported the case at Oba Market Police Station.
The third day, I started bleeding. So I went to the
hospital. At the hospital, the doctor confirmed that I had lost my
seven-week-old pregnancy. When they called me to come and pick my goods, I only saw
about five per cent of the goods taken from my shop. They told me to take
whatever was available as they don’t usually release seized goods," she
narrated.
Commenting on the plight of the woman, Edo PDP’s spokesman, Chris
Nehikhare, said members of the PDP could not fold their arms and watch Governor
Oshiomhole and his agents unleash terror on the people of the state, adding
that, the governor has a knack for dehumanizing citizens and residents of the
state.
But in a swift reaction, the Commissioner for Transport, Mr.
Iriogbe said Mrs. Ejemai was trading along the walkway and had attacked
officials, who came to clear the walkway of traders and their wares.
"She was trading along the walkway and she accosted the
officials that were clearing the walkway. She almost tore the dress of one of
the women who was removing the wares. By going to the PDP for her press
conference, it means her blocking the walkway was political.
"I expect her to be at the court and we shall meet there
because the court is for everybody. I acted decently and I did not beat her," he said.
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