I’ve never been a member of Ombaste - Al-Makura Written by Ademola Adegbite GOVERNOR Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, on Friday, denied the allegation made by the legal adviser to the proscribed Ombatse militia group that he was a financial member of the group, saying he had never given financial support or assistance in any form to the militia group. The governor made this clarification while being cross-examined at the Government House in Lafia, the state capital, by Mrs. Funsho Lawal, counsel to the judicial commission of inquiry into killing of security operatives on May 7, at Alakyio village in Lafia East Development area of the state. He also denied holding any meeting with the leaders of the militia group at the Government House, adding that he held a meeting with Eggon leaders and not Ombaste in his private residence and gave them N1 million for entertainment. According to him, “it is absolutely not correct that I gave N1 million to Alumaga and Eggon Cultural Development Association (ECDA). However, I invited Eggon leaders to my house and they honoured my invitation where I admonished them to be of good behavior and not to endanger peace of the land.” “They were 15 in number and I don’t know them as Ombatse. I didn’t offer them launch, no entertainment, so I gave them N1 million for their entertainment and transport. I got to know, for the first time in my life, the name Ombatse November, last year, when the group blocked federal highway”, he added. Al-Makura, who further denied ever locked down on any particular tribe in the state or hired mercenaries believed to be Fulanis and harbored them at Kwandere community, as alleged by Barrister Alumaga, also, refuted the allegation that he ordered for the head of the spiritual head of the outlawed group, Lega Agu popularly known as Baba-Alakyio, during the invasion of the village by the security personnel on May 7. In his own contribution, the Chairman of the commission, retired Justice Fola Gbadeyan, who announced that Baba-Alakyio would personally appear before the commission next week Tuesday, therefore, sought for the cooperation of the state Police Command, as exhibited during the appearance of the Ombatse Legal Adviser, not to molest or make any effort to arrest the witness.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Oct 2013 22:30:37 +0000
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