How EFCC arrested, then released Abia governorship aspirant, Uche Ogah – Lawyer

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Monday Ubani, a counsel to Abia State politician, Uche Ogah, on Monday clarified reports that his client was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Mr. Ogah was reportedly arrested by officials of the anti-graft agency as he was exiting the premises of a Lagos court on Monday afternoon.

The oil and gas executive, who nearly became governor of his state a few months ago based on a court ruling that was later vacated by a superior court, had been facing forgery charges before a Lagos Chief Magistrate’s Court since June 16.

The charges were brought following a petition to the police by a Lagos businesswoman with whom Mr. Ogah had engaged in oil and gas transaction.

Bridget Adeosun said Mr. Ogah allegedly duped her by forging her signature to seal a memorandum of understanding between her firm and the politician’s.

In a statement to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Ubani said the police prosecutor dropped the charges against his client at the resumed hearing on Monday.

“Just as my client was stepping outside the court, officials of the EFCC invited him and took him to their office,” Mr. Ubani said.

Mr. Ubani said upon arrival at the EFCC offices in Lagos, Mr. Ogah was shown a petition that contained the same allegations as the one with which the police had dropped charges against him. “We presented the same submission we made before the police to the EFCC which is that the subject matter in the forgery allegation bothers on a pure business transaction which my client had with Mrs. Adeosun.

“We showed the commission’s officials documents about the business transaction and agreements reached by parties in the business,” Mr. Ubani said.

The counsel said officials were “shocked that these documents were never given to them where she received her payments.”

“After reviewing our presentation, EFCC officials asked my client to go home and come back another day to have interview with the petitioner,” Mr. Ubani said.

Mr. Ubani maintained that the charges against his client are baseless and spurious.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Mr. Ogah was taken into custody, but could not immediately tell if he had been discharged as Mr. Ubani stated.