Chiemelie Ezeobi
The Lagos State Police Command on Friday commenced investigations into the raging crisis over the leadership of traders at the Fancy and Furniture section of the popular Alaba International Market in Ojo area of the state.
Already, the executive members of the section are said to have been invited for interrogation following the crisis which nearly led to bloodbath inside the market on Monday.
Police sources hinted that issues raised against the executives include allegations that one of their leaders is an ex-convict who served 13 years for drug peddling in far-away Thailand after which he was said to have been wrongly and unconstitutionally elected as their chairman.
It was gathered that seven members of the executive led by the 1st Vice-Chairman, Acholamukwu Mmadueke, signed a strongly- worded petition alleging, amongst others, that their chairman registered the union’s official vehicle in his personal name; that he built 30 container shops, sold and used them to illegally block other members’ shops in the market.
He was also said to have invaded the market with thugs and cult boys with dangerous weapons and inflicted bodily injuries on some of the traders.
Based on these allegations, it was gathered that they called for his immediate removal from office.
It will be recalled that bloodbath was averted in the market last Monday, after some traders protested “the overbearing influence ‘ of one of their past leaders on the present executive of the Fancy and Furniture section in the market.
Policemen from the Area D Command, Festac, promptly arrived the market and succeeded in maintaining peace after which they invited members of the executives for interrogation.
