Police clear Ogbechie of allegation by Prince Ned Nwoko

The Nigerian Police has concluded its investigations into criminal allegations made by Prince Ned Nwoko against Dr Gabriel Ogbechie in connection with land and chieftaincy disputes in the Idumuje-Ugboko community, in the Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

In the report released by the police, the police exonerated Dr Ogbechie of all criminal allegations made by Nwoko over the land and chieftaincy disputes.

The report which was signed by ACP Y.Y. Abubakar, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Special Enquiry Bureau, Force Criminal Investigation Department, the police recommended that;

“In view of the above facts, the investigation has not revealed any evidence to establish a Pima Facie case of conspiracy, the threat to the life of Prince Ned Nwoko, or the threat to the life of Osemeka Oscar Bosah against the suspects.”

It will be recalled that sometime in February 2021, Prince Nwoko made a series of allegations concerning the threat to life, murder, and terrorism against Dr Ogbechie. In addition to the above, Nwoko alleged that a certain Osemeka Bosah Oscar, who was allegedly privy to the information concerning the purported threat to life, died mysteriously.

These allegations subsequently formed the basis of several petitions written by Prince Nwoko and submitted to the Nigerian Police against Dr Ogbechie. However, in its August 12, 2021, report, a copy of which was recently released, the police conclusively found that there is no shred of evidence to back up the claims made by Prince Nwoko.

To disprove the allegations, Dr Ogbechie also filed a defamation suit against Prince Nwoko at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, presided over by the Honourable Justice Chizoba, N. Orji.

The hearing in the suit commenced on November 30, 2022. In the suit, Dr Ogbechie, represented by his legal counsel, Ekeme Ohwovoriole, SAN, is claiming, amongst others, a retraction of the defamatory publication made by Prince Nwoko, a written apology, and the sum of 1 billion Naira against Nwoko for defamation.

The case has been rescheduled for a hearing on February 27, 2023.