Tawun crisis: Soldier in assault scandal exonerated
The Fact Finders Initiative (FFI) has debunked the allegation that a military officer, Muritala Ibrahim, attacked the Chief Imam of Ile-Ife Prison, Muritalah Tadese,.
Director General of FFI, Barrister Abdulsalam Abdulfatah, said this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of an investigation into the crisis that erupted during a meeting to resolve leadership crisis ravaging Tawun Islamic Movement held in Iwo, Osun State.
During the crisis that erupted at the meeting, the Chief Imam was inflicted with injury, which resulted to his bleeding through the nose.
FFI said its investigation revealed that the Chief Imam was not assaulted by any soldier but suffering from epistaxis disease.
Abdulfatah explained that after conducting an independent investigation into the allegations reported in a national daily (not Daily Times), such was discovered to be “unfounded and malicious.”
He said, “we were contacted by Muritala Ibrahim, a serving officer of Nigerian Army, who informed us that he is presently a victim of heinous defamation.
“In order to secure the career of Muritala as an officer of Nigeria Army and also to come back to the society to affirm or deny the story, we thus conduct our deep investigation in to the matter.
“Our sincere and comprehensive exploration revealed that the report was unfortunately a propaganda and a deliberate and organized plot to destroy the career of Muritalah Ibrahim.
“It is therefore our responsibility as fact finders to represent the story to the public and particularly to the Authority of Nigerian Army, a representation that is verifiable by any organization.”
He said though Muritala was at the meeting when the misunderstanding broke out, he neither attacked nor even participated in the melee.
The FFI boss added that the army officer was at the meeting to link up with one of his spiritual leaders who was also attending the meeting.
Abdulsalam said, “During the reconciliatory meeting, the Chief Imam was covering the meeting with his phone contrary to the terms of the meeting held on the 1st of January, 2017, when some participants warned him to stop such act which he continued and ignored those who warned him to stop.
“One of the participants approached him and collected his phone. Muritalah Akanbi Tadese being a person suspected to be suffering from epistaxis disease began to bleed from nose.”
