Basehitz Media

The lawmaker representing Ondo South Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator Nicholas Tofowomo, on Friday, said he is open to investigation over the allegation of ritual dealings with some members of his constituents, saying the allegation was unfounded and targeted to smear his image.

Tofowomo stated this in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Olumide Akinrinlola, while reacting to the allegation of ritual dealings levelled against him by an Ondo State-based lawyer, Akin Sowore, and called on the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to investigate the allegation against him in the petition by Sowore.

The Senator who said he was open to investigation, denied any ritual dealings or oath-taking with members of the party in his area, noting that detractors are at work ahead of the 2023 election.

Tofowomo said the allegation was not only untrue and misleading but concocted to dent his image ahead of the 2023 general election because of his intimidating and distinguished achievements within two years as a Senator at the hallowed chamber.

The statement read: The attention of Senator Nicholas Tofowomo has been drawn to a petition written by an Ondo State-based lawyer to the Inspector General of Police where the said lawyer requested for the immediate arrest and prosecution of the Senator on allegations of rituals dealings with some constituents in Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State.

“Senator Tofowomo is innocent and open for investigation by the police. But it is necessary to set the record straight for the whole world to know that politicians and detractors are at work ahead of the 2023 election.

“The political orchestrated watery petition should be ignored by the good people of Ondo South and the unsuspecting public because the lawyer only wrote to mislead the public for political gains.

“The spurious allegations against the Senator are mischievous, untrue, and falsely concocted to dent his image ahead of the 2023 general election because of his intimidating and distinguished achievements within two years as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

He explained that “For the record, there was no meeting held at the residence of the Senator in the said dates quoted in the petition by the writer where people were lured to take oaths or swear with car radiator water to prove loyalty to Senator Tofowomo.

“The only meeting held last year at the residence of Senator Nicholas Tofowomo was the PDP senatorial meeting in Ondo South with all the political leaders in attendance and another with all his former 92 Aides where they all gathered at his residence to observe a day fasting and prayers programme for his quick recovery over his health challenges and the Senator was not the organiser but a unanimous decision by all of his former Aides to pray for his well-being and they were led by three pastors. This could be verified from any of his former aides.”

He, however, challenged the lawyer and his sponsors “to come out and back up their allegation with proof (pictorial or video evidence) but If they can’t provide proof, the police should arrest the lawyer and prosecute him immediately for raising such an allegation against an innocent man.

“The public should know that the petition writer is a card-carrying member of the ruling APC, and his ultimate goal is to bring down Senator Tofowomo for refusing to assist him to pay his debt after going bankrupt at the hands of a money lender in Akure.”

He queried that “Why would an APC man panic and get worried over the affairs of the PDP? How can anyone lie this much for a political purpose? Such is unbecoming of a good Christian.

“Senator Tofowomo is a man that carries God’s grace and a good Christian who cannot suffer disgrace. His detractors have tried many times to bring him down via social media but they have failed because whoever God promotes, nobody can demote. All the allegations are unfounded and I want the good people of Ondo State to disregard it.”