Police arrest former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha

Nigeria police on Sunday have arrested a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.

Others arrested with the former governor by some operatives of the Imo State police command were Ijeoma Igboanusi and Lasbrey Okafor-Anyanwu.

Igboanusi was the deputy chief of staff (Domestics) while Okafor-Anyanwu was the Commissioner for Transportation in Okorocha’s government.

Newsflash had earlier reported that Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, had seized Royal Palm Estate on Akachi Road, Owerri, allegedly belonging to Nkechi Okorocha, wife of a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

The governor said the seizure was in compliance with the directive of the Imo State gazette on the Judicial Commission of Enquiry’s report on the recovery of lands and other related matters.

He said, “This is as a result of the recommendation of the commission that the government should take over all illegal lands and structures acquired by the administrations between 2006 and 2019.”

Okorocha was arrested on Sunday after unsealing Spring Palm Estate linked to his wife, Nkechi.

The ex-governor who now represents Imo West at the Senate had gone to the estate with his supporters, policemen, soldiers and personnel of National Security and Civil Defence Corps and ordered the unsealing of the estate.

Government officials had mobilised to the estate, leading to a free-for-all as many were reportedly injured while some cars were damaged.

But Mr Okorocha’s aide, Mr Nzewuji, denied that the senator tried to unseal the property.

“When he arrived at the premises, they were confronted with thugs who had guns and machetes, and they were attacking him and his entourage.

“He (Okorocha) can’t go there to make trouble, he went to ask questions. A staff member was beaten up; even the hotel’s guests still had their property inside the hotel.

“He wasn’t going to unseal the property,” the aide said.

Mr Okorocha’s spokesperson, Sam Onwuemeodo, later issued a statement on the incident, saying Governor Hope Uzodinma’s aide on special duties, Chinasa Nwaneri, led the thugs that they claimed attacked the senator and his entourage.

He said the governor’s aide was backed by the police in the state.

A spokesperson for the state State Police Command, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed the arrest of Okorocha.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, who also confirmed Okorocha’s arrest said he will be arraigned tomorrow (Monday).

Details later…

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