The special assistant to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross Rivers State, Michael Abuo, was reportedly beaten to a pulp by a crowd of students.
The students, numbering over 100, descended on him for allegedly withholding N300, 000 that was given for ‘mobilization’ which they tagged ‘money for the boys.’
According to reports, Abuo was mercilessly beaten up at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar during a reception in honour of Ayade following the December 9 Supreme Court ruling which validated the governor’s election.
Reports have it that, the Governor gave N1million to each of the 29 commissioners and some other aides to ‘mobilize’ the people for the victory celebration in Calabar, the state capital.
The students were reportedly promised N300, 000 to join in the celebration and Abuo was said to have refused to release the alleged money to the students which angered them and they pounced on him.
He reportedly jumped over the stadium fence and was saved by policemen who scared off the students.
Speaking on the incident, one of the students from the University of Calabar, who simply identified herself as Josephine, said: “We are over 200 that came from different parts of the state for this celebration.
“We got the information from a reliable source that the governor approved N300, 000 for us for mobilization, money for the boys.
“Instead of releasing the money, he refused and became infuriated when we confronted him.
“He has been shortchanging us for too long,” the student stated.
But the governor’s aide, when contacted, denied the allegation.
Abuo said it was not true that he squandered the money meant for the students.
According to him, the attack was sponsored.
