By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa
The police in Bayelsa State have arrested a former deputy governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the October 31 National Assembly by-election, Peremobowei Ebebi, over alleged involvement in last month’s abduction of a former Nigerian envoy.
But Ebebi, in a reaction, confirmed the police invitation over the alleged claim by the former Nigerian envoy to Venezuela, Felix Obolo, and described the claim as a lie and a politically- motivated allegation against his person.
It was gathered that though Ebebi was released after a few hours on bail, his arrest was based on a petition filed by Oboro.
Oboro had in the petition to the police said his kidnap and release from kidnappers’ den after the payment of N11m ransom had revealed how Ebebi orchestrated his kidnap over a land dispute in September last year.
Oboro, who spent 23 days in captivity, was abducted on September 4, 2020, at his country home at Elemebiri, riverside town in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state.
He was reportedly seized 24 hours after he arrived at the riverside settlement by gunmen clad in military fatigue who stormed his residence.
The 75-year-old ex-Nigerian envoy also claimed before police authorities that the kidnappers revealed to him that they were allegedly sent by the former deputy governor and two others over a land dispute.
Oboro claimed that the kidnappers, however, asked for N50m to enable them to refund the amount they were paid by their sponsors to carry out the hit on him.
Ebebi, who is also a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, said on the phone that the claims by Oboro was an afterthought and false.
He said: “I have been invited by the police and have explained what happened over the land dispute.
“I had a land dispute with the former Nigerian envoy. And he claimed I sent some persons to abduct and kill him. It is a politically-motivated lie against me. The information at my disposal revealed that he was kidnapped by someone close to his family based on some money paid to him.
“He has reported to the police. Why won’t he allow the police to finish their investigations? For me, I have briefed my lawyers and I am dragging him before the court for libel.”
