The Fall Of Tokyo

The attempt on Elewe-Omo’s life offered Tokyo’s enemies, particularly Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, the desired opportunity to pulverise the NURTW boss. Just a day to his arraignment, the Oyo State government, working with the national leadership of the NURTW, evicted Tokyo. The attempt at eradicating Tokyo’s influence in the union began a week into his detention, when his deputy, Elewe-Omo told journalists that he had taken control and warned members against anti-union and anti-government activities. He also stated that the National Working Committee, NWC, of the union would confirm his appointment. The body did a few days later, as Elewe-Omo was declared acting chairman, pending the ratification of his appointment.

That day at the state secretariat of the union, representatives from the 33 councils in the state gathered, amid heavy security, to endorse Elewe-Omo. This was preceded by a no confidence vote passed on Tokyo, following allegations of finanacial impropriety. National Chairman of the union, Alhaji Gidado Hamman, then declared Elewe-Omo as acting chairman, stressing that his confirmation in substantive capacity would be announced last Monday after the National Executive Council of the union would have ratified his appointment at its meeting. Hamman explained that a new chairman had to be chosen because the union must continue to function with or without an individual. He added that the union will not intervene on behalf of Tokyo and condemned the habit of the union’s leadership in the South West to drag it into politics as well as its use as an instrument of terror.

“Why is it that you always destroy property in the West? This is not happening in the North, East or South South. If you have a problem, you can bring it to the fore by demonstrating peacefully with your placards. I beg in the name of God, let us stop vandalising or destroying property. Let us have a change of attitude. The whole of my life, I have never accepted violence as a means of living or achieving anything,” Hamman said. The decision of the union to abandon Tokyo to his fate, unsurprisingly, was the same with that of the state leadership of the PDP. “Tokyo’s case is with the police. We believe in the rule of law. The PDP will not intervene in any union matter. The fact that Tokyo is in PDP does not make him above the law. We will not influence any matter with the police,” said Basiru Akande, state secretary of the party.

Things could not have gotten grimmer for a man once feted like royalty. In court, Tokyo spewed his anger in the direction of Governor Alao-Akala, whom he accused of ingratitude. The deposed union boss claimed he gave everything to ensure the governor’s victory in 2007, including consulting spiritualists and claimed that his trial is political. “Gentlemen, I want to tell you that I know nothing about this problem they arrested me for. My hands are clean and I want to say that it is political persecution,” he said. Tokyo boasted that he would make Alao-Akala lose the next election. That boast may turn out an impotent one because he is unlikely to be in a position to pull the strings as he once did. Slapped on him is a five-count murder charge, which will keep him more than occupied. His ouster has also loosened his grip on the vast band of touts and other miscreants he once commanded. Arraigned alongside Tokyo were Kasim Adelumiyi aka Wonder, Rasheed Oladele, Taiwo Olapade (Tokyo’s driver) and Musa Adeleke aka Alubankudi (45).

According to the charges, the five accused persons and others at large, on 5 June, conspired to commit murder, a contravention of Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap 38 Vol. 11 Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria 2000. They were also accused of murdering one Muyiwa Akintunde and Folarin Ilori on the same date. The charge sheet also stated that the accused persons attempted to kill Mumuni Salako, Kareem Salako and Lateef Salako by shooting at them. After the charges were read to Tokyo and his accomplices, their lawyer, Adeleke Bakare of Kunle Kalejaiye Chambers, kicked against the arraignment of Tokyo before a magistrate court, arguing that the police only wanted to use such as a means to obtain the order of the court to further detain Tokyo and his friends. He pleaded that they be remanded in prison instead of the police cell because the police have denied access to the accused persons.’

But Police prosecutor, Matthew Ojeah, objected to the request, urging the court to remand the accused persons in police custody, as their transfer to prison may impede further investigations into the matter. Ojeah argued that Tokyo’s other accomplices are still at large and keeping Tokyo in prison would provide him unrestricted access to such people. The presiding judge, Magistrate A.S. Bolaji, ruled that Tokyo and other suspects be remanded in police custody “in the interest of justice and to enable police conclude their investigations.” The judge also directed that the accused persons should enjoy unrestricted access to their lawyers, immediate family members and medical facilities. Tokyo’s lawyer restated their opposition to the continued detention of the accused persons at SARS, which he said is a facility for robbery suspects. He urged the court to order that the accused persons be kept within the headquarters of the Oyo State Police Command, which houses the office of the Commissioner of Police.

The prosecutor insisted that it is the Police that can determine the safest place to accommodate the accused persons. The court then ordered that the accused be remanded at the Police Headquarters. The case has been adjourned till 9 July. Tokyo kept insisting that Alao-Akala is the architect of his trial, describing the governor as a desperate political animal who would do everything to return to power in 2011. “The person behind it is Governor Adebayo Alao- Akala. He is doing all these because he wants to contest for the second term and he wants to do everything possible to win the election,” said Tokyo. He was supported by his wives, led by one identified as Mama Akin. “We, the wives of Tokyo, are not happy over what the papers are reporting. They are not reporting the truth. Our husband did not kill anybody. The government of Oyo State is doing all these to him because they feel that they need to use his deputy, Elewe-Omo for 2011,” said Mama Akin.

But that is just a fraction of the story. TheNEWS learnt that Tokyo’s problems began last year when he began a relationship with Senator Teslim Folarin, who is said to be keen on replacing Alao-Akala as governor. Sources said the Folarin-Tokyo dalliance was revealed to the governor, who warned Tokyo to jump out before he would be pushed. The former union boss ignored the warning. Alao-Akala then began an incremental liquidation of Tokyo. First, he offered Tokyo the position of South West Zonal Chairman of the NURTW, overseeing six states, with the design that the new position will remove the state chapter from his direct control. Through that arrangement, Tokyo would step aside for his deputy. But he rejected the offer, insisting that his tenure would end in three years.

When that failed, Alao-Akala opted for a direct collision with Tokyo by sponsoring a faction headed by Elewe-Omo. He enlisted the support of the state Police Commissioner, Baba Adisa Bolanta. Tokyo, who was a major beneficiary of police protection, suddenly became naked. Yet, he kept underestimating how lethal the combination of Alao-Akala and Bolanta could be.  His confidence was not without foundation. For about two decades, Tokyo has been a major muscle. His control of the motor parks, chock-full with roughnecks, ensured he had a standing army that could be deployed to a variety of causes. Politicians, naturally, loved and courted him, using him and his men for various electoral malpractices and to clobber opponents. His importance meant he moved in elevated circles, made money and became influential. He rode in long car convoys and obeyed only his own laws and those of his patrons. He was close to Alhaji Lam Adesina, former governor of the state, whom he met in detention in 1998. He was Vice-Chairman before Adesina was elected. But with Adesina’s backing, he ousted one Ojewunmi as chairman. Under Adesina’s governorship, Tokyo was referred to as ‘Majiyagbe 2.’

Adesina was ‘Majiyagbe 1’. It was an allusion to the fact that both had not suffered in vain. Tokyo’s first major travail came in 2003, when Adesina lost his seat to Rashidi Ladoja of the PDP. Having supported Adesina during the election, Ladoja decided to quickly ensure that his influence was reduced. The new governor propped Alhaji Wasiu Abubakar aka Tawakalitu, who dislodged Tokyo and led the state chapter for two years before the union’s national leadership dissolved it. Desperate to return to his post, Tokyo sought the help of the late Chief Lamidi Adedibu: Not a man to spurn frienship with an urchin, Adedibu supported him against Tawakalitu. Tokyo was preferred to Tawakalitu because he hails from Ibadan, Adedibu’s hometown, while the latter hails from Iwo in Osun State. Tokyo repaid Adedibu’s faith by being useful in the violent clashes that broke out during the feud between Adedibu and Ladoja, who was later impeached in questionable circumstances. Ladoja regained his seat through the courts and resumed the battle to flatten Tokyo.

The depth of Adedibu’s love for him was on display at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, when Alao-Akala flagged off his governorship camapaign. Mr. Adebayo Babalola, former Oyo State Director of the State Security Service, SSS, arrived at the venue and moved to greet former President Obasanjo, who was with Alao-Akala, Tokyo and Adedibu. While Obasanjo did not acknowledge his presence, Adedibu unleashed a volley of insults. “Babalola a se omo ale ni e? Sebi o so wipe o fe arresi Tokyo ni. Ohun na re nikawo re, o ya mu iwo alaileko yii”. Adedibu simply called the former SSS Director a bastard and dared him to arrest Tokyo, as he had threatened. The SSS boss was cowed into offering an immediate apology for his ‘indiscretion.’ He was subsequently redeployed from the state.

Before Ladoja was impeached, his government had started prosecuting Tokyo for the alleged murder one Yellow, an Ogbomosho-based transporter. He was in prison custody, but was freed through some legal hoop-jumping inspired by Adedibu, whose closeness to former President Olusegun Obasanjo brought down every legal hurdle. For that, said a source, Adedibu thanked Obasanjo, saying: “Are, Olorun o ni je n’se o. Ose.” (President, may God not let me incur your wrath. Thank you). Tokyo’s release was wildly celebrated by Adedibu’s supporters and Alao-Akala, who was governor in the event of the illegal impeachment of Ladoja. All through, Tokyo ran wild for Adedibu, attacking whoever the departed politician identified as quarry. Some of his victims were Olori Moriyike Odulana, wife of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Odulana Odugade, with whom Adedibu duelled; Mr. Wale Ladoja, a former director of the Oodua Group, who was abducted at a Muslim praying ground in Ibadan; Senator Lekan Balogun, and staff of the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.