Ugochinyere Urges Probe Into Alleged Air Force Role In Destruction Of His Billboards

The member representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, has called for an investigation into the alleged involvement of some Nigerian Air Force personnel and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Imo State Government House, Mr. Shaba, in the destruction and burning of billboards displaying his paid political advertisements across the constituency.

Ugochinyere urged the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olatunji Disu, to investigate the alleged incident and establish the circumstances surrounding it.

In a statement, the lawmaker said the alleged destruction was concerning as it reportedly took place despite a subsisting order of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory restraining the destruction, dismantling, defacing or removal of the billboards.

He said any confirmation of the involvement of Air Force personnel would require scrutiny, particularly regarding their deployment and activities in connection with the billboards, as well as the alleged enforcement of actions involving property and lawful activities.

Ugochinyere called on the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Air Staff to determine the identities, deployment and roles of any Air Force personnel allegedly present at the scene.

He also asked the Inspector-General of Police to conduct an independent investigation into the incident, including whether any security personnel provided protection, assistance or logistical support during the alleged destruction and burning of the billboards.

According to the lawmaker, the authorities should also establish whether such actions were authorised by any competent authority.

“This is not merely about billboards. It is about respect for the rule of law and the authority of the courts. Where there is a subsisting court order, no government official, security agency or individual should take the law into their own hands,” Ugochinyere said.

The lawmaker said the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory had previously extended an interim order restraining the Imo State Government, the Imo State Signage and Advertisement Agency (IMSAA), the Inspector-General of Police, the Imo State Police Command, vigilantes, the Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Areas and other respondents from destroying, dismantling, defacing or removing the billboards installed by him across the constituency.

He added that the order also applied to actions allegedly carried out through the respondents’ agents, officers, staff or other persons acting on their behalf, including the provision of security cover for such activities.

Ugochinyere stressed that his call was not intended to prejudge any individual or institution, but to ensure that the relevant authorities establish whether any military or police personnel participated in, facilitated or provided security cover for the alleged destruction of the billboards.

“I am calling on the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the Air Staff and the Inspector-General of Police to investigate this matter thoroughly and ensure that any officer found to have acted outside the law is held accountable in accordance with the law. The armed forces and the police are institutions established to protect citizens and uphold the law. They must not be dragged into political disputes or used to undermine the authority of the courts,” he said.