Photo: Yohanna Margif waving LP’s flag.
The Police Command in Plateau State has said that it arrested the state’s Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, Yohanna Margif, over an allegation of financial fraud brought against him.
Margif was arrested by the police last Thursday, a development that he claimed was a clandestine attempt to cajole him to surrender his ticket to a defeated governorship of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
The Labour Party’s governorship ticket has since been given to Dr Patrick Dakum, who had came second in the controversial APC governorship primary election which some aggrieved aspirants have challenged in court.
Dakum was declared the winner of the LP’s by election which was conducted last week to replace Margif who purportedly relinquished his governorship ticket.
The command’s spokesman, Alabo Alfred, in a statement on Saturday in Jos, obtained by Periscope International, said that contrary to the governorship candidate’s claim, he was actually arrested for a fraud-related matter.
He said: “Contrary to the report being circulated by some online news media alleging that the arrest of Amb. Yohanna Margif by operatives of the Plateau State Command is politically motivated, the command wishes to inform members of the public that such report is malicious, misleading and unfounded.
“Amb. Margif was criminally reported by his business associate, one E.C. Gajare who alleged that Amb. Margit issued him a dud bank cheque over a business deal they had in recent time, hence the police invited the Amb. Margif to answer the allegation levied against him.
“The Plateau State Police Command wishes to set the record straight that the Nigeria Police is a non-partisan organization that rigorously pursues criminal matters with vigour irrespective of who is involved.
“Members of the public are hereby urged to disregard such a noxious report aimed at tarnishing the image of the Plateau State Police Command.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Bartholomew N. Onyeka psc (+) wants the general public to know that nothing can distract the Command from discharging its constitutional duties and responsibilities.”
