Reason LP National Chairman, Julius Abure Was Arrested Revealed

The reason operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) arrested the National Chairman of the Labour Party (LP), Julius Abure, has emerged.

Naija News earlier reported that Abure was arrested on Wednesday by the Police in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

It was gathered that the LP chairman was apprehended over allegations of premeditated attempted murder and alleged financial infractions, amongst others.

According to reports, Abure was arrested following a petition written by the party’s former Youth Leader, Eragbe Anselm Aphimia, to the Police.

The petition, addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State Command, dated February 13, partly reads, “I, Comrade Eragbe Anselm, write to you with utmost urgency and grave concern regarding a heinous act of violence perpetrated against me on the 29th of December 2023.

“I am a member and National Youth Leader of the Labour Party (LP) in Nigeria, and the events I am about to recount are of utmost importance for justice and the safety of individuals involved in political activities.

“On December 28, 2023, I flew into Benin City Airport around 2 p.m. as part of an official 5-member delegation authorised by the Acting National Chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Lamidi Basiru Apapa.

“Our mission was to organise Ward, LGA, and State Congresses in Edo State, as well as supervise the sale of nomination forms for various posts, as mandated by INEC guidelines, within the stipulated time frames.

“On arrival at the Benin Airport, I was received by one Mrs Mary Okheime Newberry, who falsely claimed to be providing transportation and accommodation on behalf of unnamed “stakeholders.”

“She proceeded to lodge us at the Smart Homes Hotel, unknown to us that she was plotting a sinister and gruesome ambush. The next morning, a man named Austin Emeka came to pick me and my colleague, Mr Patrick Anethua, up from the hotel lobby, pretending to take us to a meeting venue.

“Instead, we were violently attacked just outside the hotel gates by a waiting mob.”

Abure’s arrest comes just two days before the party’s primary election in Edo state.

Recall that the embattled LP chairman had faced criticism after being accused of misappropriating Party funds totalling more than N3 billion.

The suspended National Treasurer of the party, Oluchi Opara, had accused Abure of misappropriating the sum of N3.5 billion generated from the sales of nomination forms and other activities ahead of the 2023 general election.

However, Abure denied the allegation, saying that only N1.5 billion was obtained from the sales of nomination forms.