Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The Kogi Commissioner of police , Edward Egbuka has detailed the deputy commissioner of police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to commence investigations in synergy with the Fire Service so as to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the inferno that razed the assembly hallow chamber on Monday.

A statement issued Monday evening by the command’s spokesman,SP William Aya reads

“Consequent upon the fire outbreak that razed down the Gallery and Chambers at the Kogi State House of Assembly today 10th September, 2022, the Commissioner of Police, Kogi State Police Command led a team of tactical operatives on the spot assessment and has equally ordered for a thorough investigation into the incident.”

“He has also deployed tactical teams to cordon-off the complex for preservation and to ensure adequate security”

Meanwhile, Dangote group has denied involvement in the fire saying that it is unthinkable the the company will stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy property of either governments of individuals

The statement signed by Tony Chiejina,Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer,Dangote Industries Limited, reads;”Our attention has been drawn to a circulating Press Statement issued by the Kogi State Government, wherein the Dangote Group was accused of allegedly sponsoring arsonists to set the Kogi State House of Assembly on fire in the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2022.”

The statement titled, ‘Obajana: Desperation sets in as imported hoodlums burn down Kogi Assembly’, which was signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo pointedly accused our company of burning the Complex “in an attempt to possibly destroy evidence relating to the ownership tussle between the Kogi State Government and the Dangote Group over the Obajana Cement Company.”

According to him,”as a socially responsible corporate entity, we totally refute this allegation and condemn this unprofessional and irresponsible attempt to smear our image before local and international investors and thus erode our brand value.

Dangote Group would never stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy any property, belonging to either government or any individual. This runs contrary to our business ethos and everything we stand for as a leading manufacturer with teeming customers and consumers across Nigeria and Africa.

Our lawyers have been mandated to react appropriately to the damaging allegation from the Kogi State Government within the full extent of the law.

We urge our stakeholders and the public to disregard such irresponsible and insane statements as we ask all our stakeholders, namely shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, and the entire community of Obajana and Kogi State at large to remain calm while we follow the legitimate and lawful process to resolve this matter with the State Government.”