Posted by Yusuf Alli on
The immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has written the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Simeon Ehindero, alleging threat to his life.
The immediate past National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has written the acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Simeon Ehindero, alleging threat to his life.
Investigations by our correspondent showed that Ogbeh, whose letter was dated August 13, 2005, urged Ehindero to save him from being killed by some people on 'a devious mission."
A source quoted him as saying, 'I am in grave danger and will need urgent protection."
It was learnt that Ogbeh's letter followed the invasion of his residence at Plot 1334, Usman Danfodio Crescent, Villa Complex, Abuja by a six-man team in two unmarked cars last Thursday.
Ogbeh resigned as the National Chairman of the ruling PDP on January 9, 2005, following a letter he wrote to the President that the government was falling.
Before throwing in the towel, he had complained of intimidation and indirect threats to members of his family.
He cited an instance when his daughter was prevented by security agents from entering his residence.
Although his resignation as the National Chairman of the PDP took effect on February 28, 2005, its ripples led to the recent dissolution of the National Working Committee of the party.
But there had been pressures from some party leaders that Ogbeh and some former members of the NWC should face trial over alleged mismanagement of N1.9billion while in office.
It could not be immediately ascertained if the incident last Thursday had direct link with the intrigues in the PDP, or the purported mismanagement of party funds.
Findings, however, revealed that Ogbeh was demoralised by the strange invasion of his mansion by the six-man team.
A source said, 'The team included four men in police uniform and two in plain clothes.
'When they came, they asked after the chairman. They were told he was not in but they did not believe it. They insisted that they came from the Force Headquarters to arrest Ogbeh.
'They asked after either the wife or son of the former PDP chairman, but none of them was available.
'After about 30 minutes, they left. At about 11pm, they returned to the same residence but Ogbeh had not returned from the burial of Senator Joshua Adagba."
The source said having been briefed, a bewildered Ogbeh attempted to make a distress call to President Olusegun Obasanjo without any luck.
He added that Ogbeh got in touch with the Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who later enquired from Ehindero why the 'police" wanted to arrest the former PDP leader.
It was further revealed that Ehindero told the vice-president that he had interacted with his subordinates at the force headquarters and the FCT police command who all denied sending any team to Ogbeh's home.
The source said the clarification by the acting IG created a twist, which forced Ogbeh to seek police protection.
It was learnt that Ogbeh inferred in the letter that the six men were either 'rented for a devious mission or were from another command outside of Abuja."
The source also said Ogbeh had alternatively suspected the six strange men as hired killers.
When contacted, Special Assistant (Media) to Ogbeh, Mr. Thompson Abu, said, 'I'm not aware of the letter to the acting IG; he may have sent that (the letter) but I am not aware.
'I can confirm certain suspicious movements of some people. They came to his residence to arrest him, but there was doubt if they were policemen."
Asked of Ogbeh's mental state, Abu said, 'He is calm and he is going about his daily routine."
Contacted at about 9:30pm on Monday, the new Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Haz Iwendi, a deputy commissioner of police, said, 'I just resumed today (Monday) but I will get in touch with you later."
Iwendi said he could not get in touch with Ehindero who was in Kaduna on official assignment.
He, however, said, 'If he (Ogbeh) has written to the IG, I am sure my IG will take action on it."
The PUNCH, Tuesday, August 16, 2005