The British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to probe the alleged assault on its correspondent, Ajoke Ulohotse, who was attacked during the just concluded governorship and House of Assembly elections in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Recall that a popular Lagos-based, Segun Adewale, was caught on camera allegedly slapping a female reporter of the BBC during the March 9, elections.
In the video clip, the politician was heard insisting that the female journalist should not record him.
He was also heard asking the reporter who she was trying to call.
Adewale was said to be sharing N1,000 to each voter, who voted for his party at the Pleasure Bus Stop along the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway.
However, the BBC in a letter written to Prince Uche Secondus, the PDP’s national chairman and Dr. Adegbola Dominic, the Lagos state chairman, on Monday said Ulohotse was attacked by Adewale who forcefully took her phone away.
The BBC in the letter claimed it has video evidences of how Mr. Adewale assaulted Ulohotse.
It demanded that the national chairman and the Lagos state chairman use their offices to ensure that the incident was thoroughly investigated and findings shared.
The letter, signed by Adejuwon Soyinka, Editor, BBC News Pidgin Service reads thus: “We will like to draw your attention to an incident on Saturday March 9, 2019 in which a BBC reporter, Ajoke Ulohotse, was assaulted while carrying out her lawful duties by Mr. Segun Adewale, popularly known as Aeroland. Mr . Adewale is said to be a prominent member of your party in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
“The BBC reporter was assigned to cover the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State during the Governorship and state House of Assembly elections and was monitoring voting proceedings at a polling unit located right in front of Pleasure Bus Stop, along the Lagos-Abeokuta expressway when she was attacked by Mr. Adewale.
“At the polling unit, she noticed that voters were encouraged to approach Mr. Adewale immediately after they voted to collect a cash reward of N1,000 that the politician was personally handing over to them. Sensing this was an apparent case of vote-buying, the reporter decided to film.
“Sadly, she was attacked by Mr. Adewale who slapped and forcefully took her phone away. In assaulting the BBC reporter, Mr. Adewale was assisted by some thugs who had accompanied him to the polling unit.
“We have video evidences of how Mr. Adewale assaulted the BBC reporter and are therefore demanding that you use your offices to ensure that this incident is thoroughly investigated and your findings shared with us.”
