No murder attempt on factional Rivers Speaker — CP Tunji

Claims that factional Speaker of the state House of Assembly Edison Ehie was the target of an attempted murder have been refuted by the Rivers State Police Command.

What transpired at Ehie’s house was characterized by the authorities as an ordinary police patrol.

This was said by state commissioner of police Tunji Disu on Monday in Port Harcourt while answering queries from reporters.

About 11 p.m. on Sunday, armed men wearing police uniforms broke into Ehie’s Port Harcourt home.

Contrary to reports, Disu claimed, early investigations turned up no evidence of an attempt to kill the politician.

But he did ask the congressman to help the police if he knew anything more about the event.

He said, “The preliminary investigation we have done so far this morning has not revealed any assassination attempt

“All I knew was that police officers were on convoy patrol. It is a routine thing and we have made frantic efforts to get across to the leader to give us any information he has so that we can include it to what we already have.

“So far so good; nothing to worry about. My plea to him and every other person is if there is any complaint, my number is going to be made public. They should call me and I will quickly look into it. For now, I have not received any information like that.”

But according to our correspondent, Ehie’s home is now home to a police van.

Earlier on Monday, an assassination attempt was outlined in a statement delivered to newsmen and signed by Ken Uchendu, who was purported to be the Legislative Correspondent of the State House of Assembly.

It was revealed that CCTV footage of the incident would be released to the public for verification and documentation purposes.

The message went on to say that the intruders had been pushed back and were unable to enter the compound thanks to the lawmaker’s security staff.

Following the crisis that shook the state legislature, Ehie, the Leader of the State House of Assembly, declared himself to be the House Speaker.

Ehie has been suspended as House leader by about 24 as Members of the House, alongside two other members of the House.

Ehie, after announcing himself as the Speaker last month, told newsmen that 26 lawmakers unanimously elected him as the Speaker, even as he announced the suspension of some of his colleagues.

The alleged attack on Ehie’s residence came after 27 lawmakers led by House Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, went to Abuja for a retreat, which the latter described as capacity building.