Holland-based Omojola, 31, who was visiting Nigeria for his wedding, was allegedly killed on May 28, 2005 during counsellorship election in Ifaki Ekiti.

He was allegedly strangled to death by the armed political gang of Fayose on the orders of the governor. The deceased's parents, Mr Kayode and Deaconess Sola, had asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to compel Ehindero to investigate the killing.

In spite of section 308 of the 1999 Constitution which confers immunity on a governor, the Supreme Court has ruled that governors could be investigated while in office, and the findings used to prosecute them after leaving office. Some of the governor's aides had earlier been reportedly arrested by the police over alleged complicity in the recent spate of political killings in the state.

Ehindero, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) made the on-going investigation known in his counter-affidavit to the suit by the Omojolas which was filed by his counsel, Mr Ibrahim Bako. A legal assistant attached to the legal section of the Force headquarters, Abuja, Corporal Gabriel Fidelis, who deposed to the 23-paragraph affidavit, said he had the consent of the police boss to make the claims.

The Omojolas had accused the police boss of deliberate refusal to investigate the governor and others accused of killing their son. Explaining the delay on the investigation in the affidavit, the police boss claimed that he had already instructed the Assistant Inspector- General of Police, Zone 8, to conduct the investigation. He said although the officer had begun the investigation into the matter, he could not conclude it before he was transferred to Zone 9, Umuahia.

Ehindero said that he had since constituted another team of detectives to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing. ``Investigation into the matter is still ongoing and has not been abandoned," he said.

In the Omojolas' suit filed on their behalf by Mr Femi Falana, they were also requesting the court to compel the Code of Conduct Bureau to investigate the killing.

They said the findings should be referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for the prosecution of the governor for abuse of office. Other reliefs being sought by the plaintiffs included an order directing the IGP to investigate and prosecute all those who took part along with Fayose in the alleged cold-blooded murder of the deceased. Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako adjourned further hearing in the suit till October 18.