Ogah denies arrest by EFCC, PDP chieftain faults jubilation

Contrary to rumour making the rounds online, the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Uche Ogah, has refuted claims he was arrested and detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC) over allegations of fraud and forgery.

Ogah said he had not even been invited by the agency. He described report of alleged forgery of the signature of one Bridget Adeosun as false and malicious.   

Meanwhile, Abia State PDP chieftain, Joshua Ogbonna, has criticised the state government for rejoicing over the reported arrest of Ogah.Ogbonna, who is also the head of Ogah’s campaign organisation, said: “Instead of being their brother’s keeper, those who are temporarily holding power are busy hounding and hunting down fellow Abians.”

He told reporters in Umuahia, yesterday, that rather than encourage people like Ogah to come and invest in the state, “the government resorted to mocking itself by celebrating an imaginary misfortune of a prominent Abia son.”
   
Though news had it that he was arrested while exiting the premises of a Lagos Court on Monday, Ogah, at a press conference in his office, Monday night, said he only offered to help Adeosun because of her age, and that his transaction with her had been in good faith.

He said: “This was in 2011. It is quite amazing that since 2011, this woman did not show up but only re-surfaced in 2014 to lay entitlement to what she termed subsidy claims paid by the government. What she was referring to was the foreign exchange differentials. She then resorted to blackmail and frivolous petitions.”

Ogah said he had a clean record and had not cheated anybody in the course of doing business. “I have been to five police stations on the matter and I was vindicated after they listened to my case,” he said, urging his supporters to remain calm.