Anxiety as Imo CP summons Ihedioha, Irona, Ugochinyere
The Imo Police Command has summoned immediate past Governor Emeka Ihedioha; his deputy, Gerald Irona and the spokesperson of Coalition of United Political Parties, Ikenga Ugochinyere Imo for alleged murder, kidnapping and arson cases.
The invitation DAYLIGHT reliably gathered is currently causing panic and anxiety in the state, especially among the youths.
A letter of invitation addressed to the chairman of Imo Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Charles Ugwu signed by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of administration in the State, Ukachi Opara, asked the PDP chairman to produce the three opposition party chieftains on Thursday at the State Criminal Bureau of the police command.
The letter dated March 13, 2023 was titled “Re: case of murder, kidnapping and arson.
The invitation letter reads: ”The office of State Intelligence Bureau, Imo state police command, state headquarters Owerri, is investigating the above underlined case involving some prominent members of Peoples Democratic Party, Imo state chapter.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo state command requests you come along with the following persons, Emeka Ihedioha, Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo, Gerald Irona, to interview the commissioner of police, through the officer in charge of State Intelligence Bureau, Owerri date Thursday, 16th March , 2023, time 10:00 prompt.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the PDP in the state, Collins Opuruozor, confirmed the authenticity of the police invitation.
Imo PDP Legal Adviser Kissinger Ikeokwu, told newsmen that the State Working Committee of the party had received the police invitation.
Ihedioha’s spokesperson, Chibuike Onyeukwu, did not pick calls when contacted.
Imo police spokesman Henry Okoye was yet to respond to enquiries on the issue.
The Nation reports that Irona, who was Ihedioha’s Deputy has been remanded in Owerri prison custody after the police arrested him last Wednesday.
Irona was arraigned by the police on a three-count charge bothering on treason in the State.
The charges “read” that you Hon Gerald Irona sometime in January 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri magistrate district, did conspired with others now at large, to commit felony to wit: treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(2) of the criminal code, cap c 38, law of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo state.
“That you Hon Gerald Irona sometime in January 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri magistrate district, did make several utterances to the effect that you will make Imo state ungovernable and immediately afterwards hoodlums levied several attacks on Imo state with intent to intimidate or overawe the governor of Imo state and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37 of the criminal code, cap, c 38, law of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo state.
“That you Hon Gerald Irona on the 15th day of January, 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri magistrate district, do converted to your own use two land cruiser jeep ( V8 and v6) and one Toyota Hilux vehicle valued four hundred and Ninety three million naira property of Imo state government thereby committed an offence punishable under section 390 ( 9) of the criminal code, cap c 38, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo state.”
The presiding magistrate, C. N Ezerioha, refused Irona bail after hearing arguments for and against his bail.
The arraignment of Irona on Tuesday before justice S. I Opara of the state high court sitting in Owerri was on stalled on the grounds that the case file had not been transmitted to the court.
The arraignment has been rescheduled for today. Nation
