Family Seeks Okpebholo, CP Agbonika, Others Intervention, Over Alleged Threat to Life by Ex- Commissioner

…Ex-Commissioner denies allegation, insists bike a donation, not gift

By Simeon OSAJIE

The family of Mr. Odutayo Taju of Sobe Community in Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State has appealed to Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Edo Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, member representing Owan Federal Constituency and the Edo State Police Commissioner, CP Monday Agbonika over a case of harassment, intimidation, threats and conduct likely to lead to breach of public peace and political unrest allegedly by former Edo State Commissioner of Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mr. McDonald Obasuke.

This is contained in a petition by Mr. Odutayo Taju through his counsel K. Osamwonyi Agbonlahor Esq and addressed to the Edo State Police Commissioner.

The petitioner Odutayo Taju who is self-employed and a politician in Sobe Community alleged that his life is under threat since after he received a brand new motorcycle that was gifted to him by McDonald Obasuke by reason of his loyalty.

The counsel said trouble started when the petitioner refused “Mr. McDonald Obasuke” bid to force him to make a choice to join him in his new political party of which, he (petitioner) refused in the exercise of his right to associate as enshrined in the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Mr. Odutayo Taju, who is self-employed and a politician in Sobe Community, has diligently and loyally worked with notable politicians in his locality, including Mr. McDonald Obasuke, while they were both in the same political party and his loyalty to him, was unprecedented as the record are still there and obvious to even the blind in Sobe, Owan West LGA.

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“It was Odutayo Taju’s dedication, selflessness, and loyalty to Mr. McDonald Obasuke gave him a brand new motorcycle some years ago while they were both under one political party, and Taju served him meritoriously, which all and Sundry in Owan West can attest to.

“There is a video clip of the presentation of the brand new motorcycle from Mr. McDonald Obasuke, through one of his aids to our client and was warmly cheered by other party faithful as witnesses.

“The brand new motorcycle that was gifted to Odutayo Taju absolutely by McDonald Obasuke by reason of his loyally was clearly stated at the presentation of the brand new motorcycle to be a gift (Free of Charge – F.O.C.) and nothing whatsoever was said at that point that it would be taken and/or retrieved from him but it was an express gift and the ownership of the said brand new motorcycle passed absolutely to Taju upon presentation.

“To our greatest dismay, McDonald Obasuke suddenly made a U-turn and started to harass, intimidate, and threaten our client that he should return the motorcycle which he absolutely gifted to him some time undisturbed.

“To make matter worse, Mr. McDonald Obasuke resorted to the use of the policemen at Sobe Division to harass and he made falsehood against our client (Mr. Odutayo Teju) who was then arrested on the 6th of April, 2025, on the falsehood that the bike was never a gift and Taju was detained until the Divisional Police Officer in Sobe who upon thorough investigation, discovered that the said motorcycle was an absolute gift to our client haven seen the video clip, and our client was released.”

Going further, the said “Mr. McDonald Obasuke has vowed to continue to harass and intimidate our client (Taju) and in a bid to force him to make a choice to join him in his new political party of which, him refused in the exercise of his right to associate as enshrined in the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr. Obasuke on seeing that the DPO at Sobe acted in good faith and professionally, he went ahead to Area Command at Igarra, Akoko-Edo where he has a contact and our client was invited over the same motorcycle he got as a gift. Hence, we are appealing to Governor Okpebholo and CP Agbonika.

“In view of the above, we humbly urge Your Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo and CP Monday Agbonika, to use your good offices to intervene in this case of oppression, harassment, intimidation and threats to our client (Mr. Odutayo Taju) and caution Mr. McDonald Obasuke as his conduct is likely to lead to breach of public peace and political unrest in Sobe Community in Owan West Local Government Area of the State if no urgent steps are taken to bring him to book and allow justice take its full course.

Reacting via telephone on the allegation against him, Mr. McDonald Obasuke said that the motorcycle in question was never an absolute gift to Odutayo Taju but for the sole purpose of using the bike for campaign activities for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sobe.

He said, “I did not give to Taju any bike. I bought four bikes for four of them. The others are still with us. The bike was for the sole purpose of campaigning for our party – APC in all the nook and cranny of Sobe Community. There are witnesses to the facts.

“If you gift a man a particular item, are you not sure legally you will transfer title to such person?

“Four bikes were given out that particular day. Those four bikes they had the inscription donated by McDonald Obasuke on them. The receipt bears my name. It was for the purpose of campaigning for APC. I’m ready to go to court to retrieve the bike from him if the need be.”