Ekeakita made the denial during an appearance on The Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme on Monday, where he described the accusations as “baseless and impossible.”

reports that the CSO expressed disbelief over the police’s claim, arguing that it was illogical for him to orchestrate an attack on someone he works directly under.

Ekeakita asked, “As the CSO of the LGA, why will I do such a thing. Why would I venture into carrying hoodlums to attack the man I’m working with?”

He stated that on the day of the incident, he was in his office when he heard loud noises coming from Iheamnacho’s office. According to him, he rushed in to find out what was happening but was asked to leave.

“He [Iheamnacho] asked me to shut the door, saying the matter was between him and his political appointees, who he said he hadn’t paid since May,” Ekeakita recounted.

reports that the Rivers State Police Command had on Sunday alleged that Ekeakita and the council’s Chief of Staff led about 30 hoodlums to forcefully obtain Iheamnacho’s resignation.

Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said in a statement that the attackers not only beat the administrator but also stole his mobile phones and carted away vital official documents.

The police said both Ekeakita and the Chief of Staff had been invited for questioning.

Defending his actions, Ekeakita claimed he made efforts to alert security operatives.

He said, “When the noise was too much, I tried to call the police, but the line was not going through.”

When pressed during the interview if he knew Iheamnacho had been attacked, Ekeakita said he “does not know”, stressing that the claim about an assault came from the police.

The controversy began on Friday after a resignation letter purportedly signed by Iheamnacho circulated online. Hours later, a video surfaced showing a man resembling him being assaulted by unidentified men.

Iheamnacho later granted an interview on Nigeria Info FM, denying the resignation, and alleging that hoodlums had stormed his office and forced him to sign the letter under duress.

Ekeakita maintained that he had no knowledge of any planned attack and that he merely responded to what he thought was an internal misunderstanding.