A former member of the House of Representatives and Commissioner at the Code of Conduct Bureau, Hon. Johnson E. Agbonayinma, has dismissed as false reports claiming that former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, who died earlier in the week, was poisoned.
In a press statement on Thursday, Agbonayinma, who represented Ikpoba/Okha Federal Constituency of Edo State, described the circulating stories as “false, malicious, and completely unfounded.”
“There was no food poisoning. The claim that he reacted to a meal is pure fabrication,” Agbonayinma stated, stressing the need to set the record straight on the passing of the former police chief.
The APC chieftain also debunked online claims linking Mrs. Igbe, CEO of Vesa Foods and wife of the Iyase of Benin, to the rumours, describing such reports as “mischievous and fabricated.”
According to him, Arase, who recently traveled to Morocco with his family and friends, should be remembered with dignity rather than being subjected to fake news and malicious speculation.
“The family is in grief and deserves our support, not the spread of fake stories. Dr. Solomon Arase was a patriot, a father, and a statesman who served Nigeria meritoriously. He died as a legend and a hero to be remembered,” he said.
Agbonayinma urged the public to disregard the reports, warning that such misinformation only causes panic, confusion, and emotional distress. He called on Nigerians to rely on credible sources for information.
Arase, who served as Nigeria’s 18th Inspector-General of Police, died earlier this week. The family is expected to release an official statement on the circumstances of his death.
