- My wife, daughter humiliated – Ex-governor
- We have no hand in Police operation – Imo govt
BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Police confirmation of having the 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Chief Uche Nwosu, in their custody has sparked off a war of acidic words between the Imo State Government and immediate past Governor of the State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
While the Imo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba said Okorocha’s reaction has already proven Nwosu guilty, Senator Okorocha blamed Governor Hope Uzodimma for being “100 per cent responsible” for Nwosu’s arrest and the embarrassment suffered by his wife Nnenna, and daughter, Uloma Nwosu, during the church incident.
Emelumba told reporters at the Government House, Owerri that the former governor should have waited for the law to take its course before reacting, accusing him of trying “to whip up sentiments among Imo citizens.”
In trading their rough tackles, Senator Okorocha said his wife, Nnenna, and daughter, Uloma Nwosu, were in the church when the Police operation took place and Governor Hope Uzodimma ”is 100 per cent responsible” for the action.
According to him; “Hope Uzodimma deceived Abuja for the arrest of Uche Nwosu. Hope Uzodinma is 1,000 per cent responsible for the arrest. It is either Uzodinma is the IGP (Inspector-General of Police) or the governor of Imo State.”
The Senator, representing Imo West in the National Assembly, told reporters at his Owerri residence that his son-in-law was “dragged into a bus carrying Imo State Government number”, and his whereabouts yet unknown.
The former governor, who also accused the operatives of humiliating his wife by openly pushing her down while having his daughter’s clothes torn in the process, described the incident as “the worst humiliation” of his life, insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari “should be informed about what is happening in Imo State.”
“My wife was pushed down and my daughter’s clothes were torn into pieces by the policemen who came into the church to arrest Uche Nwosu with no warrant of arrest. I want to know the offence my son-in-law has committed that they rough handled him because I’m yet to be informed. I have called the Inspector General of Police. His number was switched off. I have called the Commissioner of Police (Hussaini Rabiu). He said the order came from above.
“Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the church for an outing service, when a group of men in police uniform while the sermon was ongoing, started shooting. In the course of their activities, they pushed down my wife and they tore my daughter’s clothes.
“No warrant of arrest. No invitation. We suspected kidnapping at first. Many people were injured while running. Uche Nwosu was dragged into a bus carrying Imo State Government plate number.
“They were identified as policemen from Imo State Government House by their colleagues attached to Uche for the burial. I got the CP who said that IGP approved his arrest.
“The shock of such arrest without warrant and humiliating members of my family are unfortunate. Most security operatives in Imo State know nothing about the arrest. I don’t know what they framed up”, Senator Okorocha said.
“The IGP could only do this on high-level misinformation from Hope Uzodinma. Over one hundred gunshots to arrest Uche Nwosu? What kind of ruthless behavior on innocent citizens of Nigeria? Hope Uzodimma has shown tremendous heat to me and members of my family. Lawmakers who attended the burial were suspended.
“I am waiting to hear the offence of Uche Nwosu. Recall that Hope Uzodinma said he is going to name sponsors of insecurity in Imo state on January 3. I know he has nothing other than to cook up a story. Last time, he ordered my arrest and one security officer ordered me to enter the pick-up vehicle.
“Uzodimma wants to frame me up by all means. Uzodinma has to answer for most of the activities going on. Uzodinma must mention the names of those who are responsible for insecurity in Imo State or he should be held responsible for all the killings in the state.
“Uzodimma has framed up something against Uche Nwosu. Buhari should be informed about what is happening in Imo state. Hundreds of citizens are been killed in this state. How come it is only Abuja and Imo State government House that know about the arrest.
“I want to know the reason for the attack on a church and, why Uche Nwosu should be treated like a criminal. Imo State Government should provide answers immediately. You can’t be governor of the people by intimidation”, he said.
However, the Imo State government through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, berated Senator Okorocha of trying to whip up unnecessary “sentiments among Imo citizens.”
He told reporters in Owerri that; “If Uche Nwosu is arrested, what he (Okorocha) should do is to wait and see why he was arrested. But he is talking incoherently and that will not save him. What he should do is wait for the law to take its course.
“All of you went to Orsu and saw the carnage there. I am not saying he is linked to the incident. You also witnessed his statement during his mother-in-law’s burial where he invited youths to protest. All these are evidence of his inciting actions in the state.”
Clearly denying the government’s involvement in the arrest, Emelumba said: “The government has no hand in the arrest of Uche Nwosu, but any attempt by Okorocha to use it to cause panic is evidence of guilt and that cannot save him.
“Okorocha contradicted himself when he said that the commissioner of police told him that the order came from the IGP and at the same time he said that the arrest was ordered by the governor. This shows that he is speaking incoherently and that cannot save him.”
On Sunday, the social media was awash with stories of Nwosu, who is Okorocha’s son-in-law, being kidnapped at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama-Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state.
Many of the commentaries had alleged that some ‘gunmen’ stormed the church during the outing service of Nwosu’s mother, Jemamah Nwosu, and shot sporadically into the air. His friends and political associates also claimed that the ‘gunmen’ bundled the politician into the trunk of a waiting vehicle before speeding away.
But promptly reacting to the incident, the Imo State Police Command debunked the report acknowledging that Nwosu was in their custody over “a case that is under investigation”. This is as the Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam, hinted that the arrest was based on an order from above.
Reports had alleged that “gunmen” stormed the church during the outing service of Nwosu’s mother, Jemamah Nwosu, and shot sporadically into the air.
Associates also alleged that the “gunmen” bundled the politician into the trunk of a waiting vehicle before speeding away.
