Chairman of Ojodu Local Government Area of Lagos State, Hon Odubakun, on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, assaulted the Editor of The SUPREME newspaper, Mr Aruga Joe Omokaro.

An eye witness who narrated how the incident happened, said:

“At about 11.35am the editor was at Ogba bus stop when the chairman, in a black truck with tinted glasses and two other cars following, drove against traffic (one-way) from Ogba bus stop, entering Mokuolu Street.

“Three traffic Police Officers in uniform (two ASPs) from Area G Police Command, stopped the truck carrying the chairman and directed the driver to go back and take proper turning.

“But the driver refused. Apparently the chairman would have ordered him not to mind the police but the Police officers refused allowing the vehicle and the two others to take one-way.

“At that point, a scene was created and people gathered to know who was taking laws into his hand and would not obey the Police.

“One of the Police officers went to the door to find out who the important person was. Unfortunately the arrogant chairman refused to wind down and introduce himself.

“Suddenly, a Police Inspector came down, saluted the superior officers and introduced the occupant in the truck as Ojodu LG Chairman.

“The officers allowed him to pass. Surprisingly he drove forward a bit, stopped and came back with his thugs to justify his action, and told the Police that he was on an emergency The officers then told him that he ought to have initially introduce himself to avoid the curious crowd.

“At that point, the Editor and some passersby supported the Police and told the Chairman that he was supposed to show good example by his status.

“Just then he asked the Editor furiously, ‘Who are you to challenge me?’ The Editor replied, ‘l am a journalist’, and he retorted: ‘You are a stupid journalist’.

“And two men suspected to be the Chairman’s political thugs, came and seized the editor by his neck, another administered a dirty slapped him on his neck, while shouting: ‘Stupid journalist! Useless journalist! Who cares if you are a journalist? Is the local government chairman your mate?’

“Without asking for his identification card, third person came and attempted to seize his phone with which he wanted to video record the scene while threatening to order their thugs to beat the Editor up.

“The Editor suffered a twisted neck and a broken hand by the time the thugs were done with him, leading to his being hospitalized at Blue Cross hospital, Ogba.”

The source said the Editor reported the assault at Area G Police Command.

News Express contacted Jumua’ah Abiodun, Media Aide to the Ojodu LG Chairman, for comments but he failed to do so despite being reached by WhatsApp and phone call.

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