Police Arrest Okorocha for Alleged Attack on Disputed Property
To be arraigned today
The Imo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a former governor of the state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, representing Imo West Senatorial District.
The state’s police spokesman, Mr. Orland Ikeokwu, said Okorocha is in custody to explain why he led hoodlums to break into Royal Palm Spring Estate, in Owerri earlier sealed by the government.
Ikeokwu told journalists in Owerri that the police moved to Akachi road when they received a distress call that the Royal Palm Spring Estate’s seal had been breached by men led by Okorocha.
“The command received a distress call regarding what we termed to be unrest at Royal Spring Palm Estate, and the operatives moved to the place. We discovered Okorocha led some persons to the place hitherto sealed by the Imo State government.
“The command calmed the situation and invited Okorocha, to come and explain why he led the violent breaking into the estate that led to damage,” he said.
Also arrested by the police were Ms. Ijeoma Igboanusi and Mr. Lasbrey Okafor-Anyanwu.
Igboanusi was the Deputy Chief of Staff (Domestics) while OkaforAnyanwu was the Commissioner for Transportation in Okorocha’s government.
The Spring Palm Estate was linked to Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi.
Troubled started when Okorocha allegedly broke the sealed Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, property believed to have been built with the state’s resources.
Okorocha who arrived the site alongside his supporters and security personnel, ordered the immediate destruction of the keys used to lock the entrance gate to the hotel and subsequently gained access into the apartment.
The action of the former governor attracted the attention of the state government as Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Chief Chinasa Nwaneri stormed the venue with supporters of government, which led the two parties to fight openly.
In his reaction, Media Adviser to Okorocha, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo said, more than 1,000 thugs, armed to teeth with knives and guns and led by Nwaneri, with the backing of armed policemen from Government House, attacked Okorocha’s convoy.
“They attacked and damaged all the vehicles in his convoy. They also attacked his personal aides”.
According to him, Okorocha was with only his personal aides when the thugs unleashed the attack.
He claimed that Okorocha has the strongest political structure in the state and teeming followers in the state, stressing that if he had expected the attack, he would not have moved with his personal aides alone.
“Okorocha has never been a violent man. This planned attack but unprovoked and unwarranted, has opened a new, but ugly chapter in the politics of the State”, he stated.
However, an aide to governor Uzodimma, Mr. Ambrose Nwogwugwu accused Okorocha of mobilising cultists and thugs to break into a state government property.
“The thugs challenged security agents on guard to protect the property.
“The property - Royal Palm Estate was sealed by Imo state government but Okorocha in direct confrontation with the state government stormed the estate with dangerously armed thugs, breaking and forcing themselves into the property while shooting indiscriminately at security operatives guarding the sealed property.
“Okorocha must be held firmly responsible for attempting to plunge Owerri into a crisis,” he stated.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Declan Emelumba, who confirmed Okorocha’s arrest said he would be arraigned today (Monday).