Founder and group managing director of Rainoil Limited Dr Gabriel Ogbechie has debunked reports that he was arrested over a plot to assassinate ex-lawmaker Ned Nwoko.
Ogbechie and Nwoko are from Idumuje-Ugboko in Delta State.
The former was last week invited by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command in Abuja over a petition written by Nwoko, who is the husband of Nollywood actress Regina Daniels.
But, contrary to reports that he was arrested, Ogbechie said he responded to the police invitation and returned home after answering questions related to Nwoko’s petition.
According to Nwoko, a prisoner in Kuje prison allegedly overheard two Idumuje-Ugboko indigenes who were detained at the facility over clashes in the town saying an oil magnate had paid them to assassinate the former lawmaker.
The third prisoner subsequently contacted Regina Daniels to report what he allegedly heard.
Nwoko stated in his petition to the police that the only oil magnate from Idumuje-Ugboko is Ogbechie who owns a chain of filling stations.
According to Ogbechie, “I pointed out to the police that I have absolutely no idea what Ned Nwoko was alleging.
“Ned Nwoko and Regina Daniels are in the best position to explain the relationship between Regina Daniels and a prisoner in Kuje Prisons.
“Besides, the random prisoner only alleged that he heard them mention an oil magnate, therefore the assertion that the oil magnate is Chief Gabriel Ogbechie is entirely that of Ned Nwoko.
“I left the police station within an hour of my arrival. And I had barely arrived my house in Abuja when the WhatsApp message went out that I had been arrested.
“It was obviously prepared even before my decision to honour the police invitation, all in a bid to embarrass and tarnish my reputation.”
