A suspected gunman arrested after a shooting incident involving Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Egbedun has alleged that he was hired by APC House of Representatives candidate Francis Eniade.
The suspect made the claim while being questioned by security operatives following his arrest.
He was reportedly found wearing a police uniform and carrying a firearm. During the interrogation, he admitted firing two shots at the scene.
The suspect also told investigators that he had accompanied Eniade to the location where the incident occurred.
According to him, his involvement was linked to his work with the APC candidate, whom he said he regularly followed.
“I follow Eniade. I was only hired,” the suspect was heard saying during the interrogation.
He further claimed that he worked at Eniade’s residence and had been engaged to accompany the politician.
The suspect also gave conflicting accounts about the ownership of the firearm recovered from him.
He initially claimed the weapon belonged to him before later identifying another person, Ayodeji Onayemisi, as its owner.
“I brought it from Lagos State,” he told the interrogators when asked where he obtained the firearm.
The suspect admitted that he discharged the weapon twice.
He reportedly explained that he believed people inside a vehicle at the scene were attempting to attack them.
He also gave an account of an encounter involving a black SUV.
According to him, the vehicle passed Eniade’s vehicle, prompting questions from the politician’s personal assistant, identified as Taiwo.
The suspect said the SUV appeared to be speeding and was being followed when the confrontation developed.
Security operatives also questioned him about his police-style clothing and why he appeared to be presenting himself as a law enforcement officer.
In response, he claimed to belong to a group he called “NFS” and insisted that the organisation had members in Osun State.
“Yes, there is NFS in Osun,” he said, although he declined to provide details about the group’s location or operations.
The allegations made by the suspect against Eniade have not been independently verified.
The development follows a petition reportedly submitted by Egbedun’s lawyers to Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu over an alleged threat involving the APC candidate.
Egbedun disclosed the petition while speaking with journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday.
The Speaker said the action was not intended to settle a political score or target Eniade for partisan reasons.
Instead, he said the move was aimed at protecting lives, enforcing the law and safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process.
Egbedun also expressed concern over remarks allegedly made by Senator Francis Fadahunsi and Eniade, which he said could threaten opposition politicians and their supporters.
With the Osun governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, the Speaker urged residents to remain peaceful.
He also called on eligible voters, particularly supporters of Governor Ademola Adeleke, to participate in the election without fear.
The latest allegations are expected to heighten attention on security arrangements and political tensions ahead of the Osun governorship poll.