Former member of the House of Representatives and Federal Commissioner at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) Johnson Agbonayinma has dismissed reports that former inspector general of police, Solomon Arase, who died earlier in the week, was poisoned.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr Agbonayinma said the reports being circulated on social media were false.
“The stories being circulated are completely unfounded. There was no food poisoning. The claim that he reacted to a meal is pure fabrication,” he said.
The former lawmaker, who represented Ikpoba/Okha Federal Constituency of Edo State, noted that Arase travelled to Morocco recently with his wife, family and friends, but the circumstances of his death remain the responsibility of the family to communicate officially.
He also faulted attempts to link names and institutions to the reports, describing them as fabricated.
Agbonayinma appealed to the public to disregard the claims and support the family in prayers.
“Dr. Solomon Arase was a patriot, a father, and a statesman who served Nigeria meritoriously. Let us honour him with dignity and respect. He died as a legend and a hero to be remembered,” he added.
Solomon Arase, who was Nigeria’s 18th inspector general of police, died on Saturday at the age of 68 at Cedarcrest Hospital in Abuja.
