Oyo state chief whip arrested in connection with lawmaker Sugar’s death, denies involvement


The Chief Whip of Oyo State House of Assembly, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied any involvement in the death of a member of the House of Representatives, Temitope Olatoye aka Sugar.

Akinmoyede has been in the custody of Criminal Investigations Department, Iyaganku, Ibadan over allegations he killed Sugar.

It is worthy of note that the suspect had contested for the Lagelu State Constituency seat for the second time under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but lost to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Akinmoyede speaking via his media assistant, Segun Olawale, on Sunday said, he has nothing to do with Olatoye’s murder.

“Although both of us are from rival political parties, “Sugar” was my friend, brother and longtime political ally.

“We were together in APC for a very long time before he defected to the African Democratic Party (ADP) under whose platform he contested the Oyo South Senatorial election.

“I am a man of peace and this can be attested to by my political associates, my colleagues in the House of Assembly and indeed, the people of my constituency.

“The fact that Sugar and I are not from the same political party does not mean that we should be at each other’s throats.

“Incidentally, we were not contesting for the same political office. While he contested for the Oyo South Senatorial seat, I contested for the Lagelu State Constituency for the second term,” he said.

Speaking further, the Oyo state chief whip said, there wasn’t any form of rancour at their polling unit, until shortly after the late lawmaker arrived.

“not long after Sugar’s arrival did I hear that gunshots were being exchanged between his “boys” and some people at the Lalupon motor park which eventually led to him being shot.”

“I am therefore surprised by the reports in a section of the media to the effect that I was arrested by the police.

“I must state emphatically that I was never arrested, I reported myself to them voluntarily upon receiving their call,” he said.