Onokpite’s Family Accuses Keyamo of Betrayal
LAGOS AUGUST 20th (URHOBOTODAY)-THE family of slain gubernatorial candidate of Citizens Popular Party, CPP, Chief Ogbe Onokpite, has called on the public to disregard claims by Mr. Festus Keyamo that he withdrew from the case when he noticed that late Onokpite’s family was fighting for compensation.
It will be recalled that Festus Keyamo, while declaring his intention to run for the Senate, following the demise of Senator Pius Ewherido, said that he withdrew from representing the Onokpites over the murder of their brother, Chief Onokpite, when it became clear to him that the family was after a different goal.
Mr. Diemo Onokpite, who spoke on behalf of the family, told journalists that Festus Keyamo betrayed the Onokpite family, explaining that when Chief Onokpite died, Keyamo in a television interview, stated that Ogbe was murdered and that he would fight for justice and would not stop until he get justice.
He said: “When I called Keyamo several times concerning the case and on the next line of action, he told me that he had written a petition to the Presidency and the Inspector-General of Police on the issue.
“We later noticed that Keyamo was not doing anything about the case and we were not aware of the reasons behind his withdrawal from the case.
“The family quickly hired another lawyer, who then wrote fresh petitions via courier to Keyamo and notified him that he had written fresh petitions on the matter and he had sent them to him.
“Keyamo later received the fresh petitions from the family lawyer and pictures of how Chief Ogbe was murdered, which was a good evidence for the case.
“After waiting for Keyamo’s action on the issue without result, we directed the family lawyer to act on his own, which he did and we are still in the case up till date. Chief Ogbe’s case file is currently with the Attorney-General of the state, awaiting his advice.”
Diemo pointed out that the Onokpite family never in any way requested for compensation over their murdered son and brother, adding that even if they wanted compensation, they could have sue the police for same.
Source:Vanguard