Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, South-West Nigeria, the federal government has slammed a three-count charge of terrorism against 12 All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, including a serving commissioner under Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is gunning for a second term of office.

The men were arrested during a recent violent clash between supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC in Ekiti, during which a man identified as Peter Akin was killed with many vehicles and properties destroyed.

The APC has blamed the police for taking sides and the PDP for being the aggressor in the conflict. No PDP member was arrested in the conflict.

Yesterday, the police arraigned the 12 arrested APC supporters, including Mr. Funminiyi Afuye, the Commissioner for Integration and Inter-Governmental Affairs, before a Federal High Court in the federal capital, Abuja.

Others charged alongside the commissioner are Idowu Aladejebi (68 years), Afuye Jide (30), Anisulowo Kayode (46), Azeez Suleiman (19), Ajayi Idowu (18), Babadi Ajayi (35), Abiodun Omoniyi (68), Oyedapo Olaoluwa (29), Sunday Olalere (27), Dapo David (26) and Akinyemi Tayo (25).

The charge which was filed in the name of the Inspector General of Police, IGP, is marked FHC/ABJ/CR/118/14 and signed by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Oloye Torugbene.

Afuye had earlier dragged the Police before an Ekiti state high court where he claimed to have been physically assaulted by a Mobile Police Commander, Mr. Gabriel Selenkere. He is asking for N1 billion in damages for physical assault on his person and unlawful detention.

In the alleged terrorism charge before the federal court in Abuja, the commissioner and the others were accused of conspiring with each other to commit an act of terrorism at Ijegbo Round About to wit: “Using dangerous weapons/devices at Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, which resulted in destruction of properties and the death of one Peter Akin (M) and injured several other persons.”

They were accused of committing an act of terrorism by using dangerous weapons at Ijigbo Round About and Oluyemi Kayode Stadium and shooting Peter Akin to death.

They were also alleged to have incited, promised and induced other persons to commit an act of terrorism, which resulted in the destruction of valuable properties, such as motor vehicles, motorcycles, etc.

According to the charge, the 12 accused persons allegedly committed the said offences on June 8, 2014 while the said offences are punishable under sections 1(2)(d), 2(2)(h) and 17 of the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act 2013.

The arraignment of the accused persons before the court will however be delayed as the judge, Justice Evoh Chukwu, is said to have been bereaved on Monday following the death of his mother and was not in office as at the time the case was assigned to him yesterday afternoon.

•Adapted from PMNEWS. Photo shows Commissioner Funminiyi Afuye, one of those charged with terrorism over the Ekiti political crisis.