Police, Okorocha Tango Over ‘Breaking Into Sealed Property’
Allege illegal entry, breach of peace by ex-governor
Former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha may be in court today for allegedly breaking into a sealed property belonging to his wife, Nkechi
This is as the Imo State Police Command denied reports suggesting that Senator Okorocha was handcuffed during his arrest as published in the social media.
Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West State Senatorial district at the National Assembly, was picked up by the police on Sunday and a competent police source hinted that he will be charged to court on Monday, February 22, 2021.
The Imo Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, who confirmed the development, explained that the former governor ran into troubled waters for hiring some thugs to forcefully break the government seal and gain entry into the seized estate
Close aides of Senator Okorocha were however unhappy that their principal was still being held at the State police command as at 10 o’clock on Sunday night.
But it was gathered that the delay in securing the former governor’s release was due to his insistence that officials of the Imo state government must not be present to witness any statement he would be volunteering to the Police.
Senator Okorocha, accompanied by his son in law, Uche Nwosu, allegedly forced open the Royal Spring Palm Estate sealed by the state government with the aim of recovering the property belonging to the former First Lady of the State.
However, reports said one person was injured in the brawl that ensued between supporters of Okorocha and some Imo State government loyalists that confronted themselves at the scene.
The Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Enyinnaya Onuegbu said on Friday, February 19, 2021, the State government recovered the said property along Akachi Road in line with its gazette on a report submitted by the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Recovery of Lands and other Related Matters.
When calm was restored at the incident scene, Senator Okorocha was led away and taken to the Command headquarters at about 5 pm in into a waiting Sienna vehicle by some police personnel.
The Nation quoted the Police Public Relations Officer, Imo State Command, Orlando Ikeokwu (SP), as saying that after receiving a distress call, the Command; “discovered that Senator Okorocha allegedly led some people to the place sealed by the state government. This generated unrest and some youths from Owerri stormed the place.
“Right now he is in our custody and the Commissioner of Police has directed a full-scale investigation into the incident. If found culpable, he would be prosecuted according to the provision of the law,” he said.
Those arrested with Senator Okorocha include Steve Asimobi, Lasbrey Okaforanywu and Ijeoma Iboanusi.
But in a swift reaction, Okorocha’s Media aide, Sam Onwuemeodo alleged that Governor Hope Uzodinma’s Special Adviser on Special Duties; Chinasa Nwaneri attacked Okorocha with thugs.
A statement made available to newsmen, Onwuemeodo alleged the thugs, fully armed and supported by security men from government house, also attacked the lawmaker’s convoy without any provocation.
According to him, one of Senator Okorocha’s son-in-law, Dr Uzo Anwuka was shot in the foot by the armed thugs; warning that the attack on Okorocha is setting a dangerous precedent in the South East State. – With additional report from the Nation
