How Former Imo Governor, Okorocha Was Arrested

CHUKA UBAH

The Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District and former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, was on Sunday arrested for breaking into the Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments, the State Police Command said.

It was reported days ago how the Imo State Government seized the estate allegedly belonging to Nkechi, wife of the former Governor.

It will be recalled that Hon. Enyinnaya Onuegbu, the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, had on Friday led a team of Government officials and Police officers to seal the property situated along Akachi Road in Owerri, the state capital.

Reacting to the development, Okorocha on Sunday stormed the estate, demanding to be allowed in but the security personnel on the ground refused to open the gate.

The former Governor was said to have ordered his men to make way for him to enter the place and they forced the gates open.

On the orders of Okorocha, the gates were flung open and the men with him also allegedly destroyed vehicles and injured the security guards at the place.

Not long after forcibly gaining access into the property, masked police operatives led by two aides of Governor Hope Uzodinma, identified as Chinasa Nwaneri and Eric Uwakwe, arrived to take him away.

Also arrested were Ijeoma Igboanusi, Deputy Chief of Staff while Rochas Okorocha was the Governor, and Lasbrey Okafor-Anyanwu, who was a Commissioner in Okorocha’s government.


Speaking to journalists, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed Okorocha’s arrest.

Ikeokwu said the Police moved to Akachi Road when they received a distress call that the estate sealed by the State Government had been forcibly opened by some men led by the Senator.

Orlando Ikeokwu said, “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 that Senator Rochas 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 which led to damages.”