The Oyo State House of Assembly Chief Whip, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, who is a former Chairman of Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State, has denied any involvement in the killing of Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar, a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Lagelu / Akinyele Federal Constituency and the Chairman, House Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning.
Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar, popularly referred to as “Sugar”, was killed on 9th March, 2019 by unknown gunmen at Lalupon Area of Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State during the gubernatorial and state house of assembly’s elections.
Mr. Olafisoye Akinmoyede who is currently the Chief Whip of the Oyo State House of Assembly contested for a re-election to the Lagelu State Constituency seat under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), where he was beaten by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the position.
Since the death of Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar, Mr. Olafisoye Akinmoyede has been in detention at the State’s Criminal Investigations Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan in connection with the incident which he has denied any knowledge or involvement.
According to the statement issued on Sunday 17th March, 2019 by the Media Assistance to Mr. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, Segun Olawale, his principal was not in any way connected with the killing of Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar.
Some highlights from the press statement released by Segun Olawale reads:
“Although both of us are from rival political parties, “Sugar” was my friend, brother and longtime political ally. We were together in APC for a very long time before he defected to the African Democratic Party (ADP) under whose platform he contested the Oyo South Senatorial election. I am a man of peace and this can be attested to by my political associates, my colleagues in the House of Assembly and indeed, the people of my constituency.
The fact that Sugar and I are not from the same political party does not mean that we should be at each other’s throats. Incidentally, we were not contesting for the same political office. While he contested for the Oyo South Senatorial seat, I contested for the Lagelu State Constituency for the second term”
Mr. Olafisoye Akinmoyede stated that he did not hesitate to honour the invitation of the State Police Command at Eleyele, Ibadan, in connection with Sugar’s death. According to him, he voluntarily walked into the police command since he knew that he was not in any way involved in the killing of Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar. He further clarified that the unfortunate killing of Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar also did not take place at the Ward 7 polling unit where he voted on the day he was killed.
Mr. Olafisoye Akinmoyede stated that all he knew about the death of Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar, was that the late lawmaker was in Lalupon town from his Alape Village with his “boys”. According to him, “not long after Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar’s arrived at the polling unit he heard sounds of exchange of gunshots between some people at the Lalupon Motor Park and his “boys” which eventually led to his death.
Mr. Olafisoye Akinmoyede said that he was therefore surprised by the reports in a section of the media to the effect that he was arrested by the police. He further clarified that he was never arrested but he reported himself voluntarily to the police after receiving a call by the police inviting him to appear before them. He there called on the police to do a thorough investigation and intensify efforts to finding the killers and anyone in connection with the killing of Mr. Temitope Olatoye Sugar.
