Three weeks after assuming office as Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr
Finhan Adeoye is said to have been removed and redeployed by the Police
authorities in circumstances that sources close to the development
described as controversial.
Adeoye, who replaced Mr Chris Ezike, was saddled with the task of
coordinating security arrangements for the forthcoming governorship
election.
He was on ground before the earlier date of September 10 scheduled for the
election.
Following security advice, the election was rescheduled to hold on
September 28.
But Adeoye has now been reportedly removed while a new Commissioner of
Police that will replace him was yet to be named as of press time
yesterday.
However, sources close to the development hinted that Adeoye’s removal was
due to his disagreement with the State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole on the
use of Police personnel before and on the day of the election.
Adeoye was also said to have, at a meeting in Benin, faulted the claim by
the Governor that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had
registered 8,000 militants for the governorship poll.
The Governor, as learnt, was not comfortable with the neutral role that
Adeoye wanted the Police, under his leadership, to play in the electoral
process.
Sources said that Adeoye’s neutral and cautious disposition was evident
when he did not support the recent indiscriminate arrests and detention of
leaders of the opposition party in the State.
The plan by the ruling APC was to take many PDP leaders out of circulation
before and during the election while it would proceed to rig the election
in favour of its candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki.
Part of the Commissioner’s perceived offences was that he made the release
of the few leaders arrested by the Police quick and relatively easy to the
disappointment of the Governor.
The Governor, sensing that Adeoye might not cooperate with him on wrongful
deployment and usage of Police personnel before and during the rescheduled
September 28 governorship election, decided to move against him.
He was said to have used his position as the Chief Security Officer of the
State to recommend to the Police authorities his removal.
A new Commissioner is expected to be named before the end of the week.