The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed that Port Harcourt–based cleric Tombari Gbeneol, who was arrested over an alleged plot to assassinate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, is undergoing investigation.
Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying further details would be made public after the interrogation.
“He is in our custody. Investigation is ongoing. I would not say more than that. When we are done with the investigation, you will know,” Officer Hundeyin said.
Mr Gbeneol, the founder of Life Forte Chapel Church in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was reportedly arrested about two weeks ago by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).
Sources said his arrest followed the interception of a phone conversation between him and the immediate past Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo.
According to one of the sources, the recorded conversation allegedly involved discussions on a plan to bring in Israeli nationals to eliminate the FCT minister.
The source said the content of the call was considered a national security threat, which led to the action by the IRT.
A security source added that efforts were ongoing to arrest Mr Danagogo in connection with the matter.
However, Danagogo denied any involvement in the alleged plot.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant, Obele Briggs, he said he had not gone underground and would make himself available to any security agency that invited him.
The statement read in part, “Dr Danagogo categorically denies these allegations. They are baseless, false and fabricated.
“The claims, which are being circulated on certain online platforms, are false, malicious, and deliberately crafted to smear his reputation, mislead the public, and drag his name into issues he knows absolutely nothing about.
“He is not, cannot and has never been at large. At present, he is in his house and will readily make himself available to the police or any responsible law enforcement agency for investigation, if invited.”
