5th October, 2010
Raymond Dokpesi, the director general of the presidential campaign organisation of former military dictator Ibrahim Babangida, has been released.
He was arrested yesterday night in connection with bomb blasts that killed 12 persons and injured dozens on independence day in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
He had planned to address the press this morning but the event was later cancelled.
His arrest followed an alleged revealing text message sent to the phone of one of the suspected bombers.
Dokpesi regained freedom at about 11 p.m. last night after being interrogated.
Dokpesi was said to have reported himself to the State Security Service, SSS, Headquarters last night following an invitation sent to him by the SSS in connection with the bomb explosions.
He was directed to report back at the SSS headquarters at about 3 p.m. today.
A hurriedly assembled press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. today was suspended following the decision of the IBB Campaign Organisation to consult widely before meeting with the press over the alleged involvement of the organisation’s Director General in the blast.
Kaseem Afegbua, spokesman to IBB Campaign Organisation said the interrogation of Dokpesi won’t affect Babangida’s plan to challenge President Goodluck Jonathan to secure the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party nomination for the presidential election due early next year.
“We’re more resolute now, more than ever before,†he said.
Journalists who thronged the Maitama District office of Ibrahim Babangida Campaign Organisation were informed that the press briefing would no longer hold as expected owing to the desire of the organisation to consult widely before addressing the press on the damning allegation about the correspondence between Dokpesi and one of the suspects of the Abuja blast.
P.M.NEWS, however, discovered that the postponement of the press parley may not be unconnected with the directive issued to Dokpesi by security officials who interrogated him yesterday.
The IBB Campaign organisation may have shelved the briefing in order not to aggravate issues for its Director General who is scheduled to return for more interrogation this afternoon.
The alleged text message allegedly sent to one of the suspects of the blast who is already in custody, was said to have inquired if the AIT boss had paid the balance of their fee for the bomb attack.
—Nnamdi Felix / Abuja