Imo state government has ordered a citizen’s arrest against
Senator Rochas Okorocha, over alleged assault on a government official, Mr
Jasper Ndubuaku.
The Secretary to State Government (SSG), Uche Onyeaguocha,
gave the order after the Chairman of the Recovery of Government Properties, Mr
Jasper Ndubuaku, was allegedly assaulted at Okorocha’s residence.
Onyeaguocha said that the state had also placed Okorocha on
security watch and urged Imo citizens to arrest him and alert the government
whenever they find him in the state. A video, trending online on Thursday,
captured some thugs beating Ndubuaku at Okorocha’s residence on Spibatt Avenue,
Owerri.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Rabiu Ladodo, and
SSG confirmed the incident to newsmen at a joint news briefing in Owerri.
According to PM News, the commisionner announced that a citizen’s arrest had
been declared on Okorocha over the incident. They claimed that Okorocha hired
thugs to attack Ndubuaku, who doubles as Special Adviser to Gov. Emeka Ihedioha
on Security matters. They said that the Senator representing Imo West would be
arrested and prosecuted anytime he enters the state.
This is happening barely 24 hours after traditional rulers
in the state issued a stern warning to Okorocha against disrupting the
activities of the recovery team. The commissioner of police said that police
would investigate the senator’s involvement in the matter.
Narrating his ordeal, Ndubuaku alleged that he was beaten at
Okorocha’s residence and thrown into a gutter by some thugs. He further alleged
that he was first held hostage for some hours by the thugs in the presence of
security men attached to Okorocha’s residence. He said that the recovery team
obtained a court order to search Okorocha’s house.
“We got a court order to recover stolen properties kept in
Okorocha’s house and when we got to his house on Thursday, armed thugs attacked
us.
There are twenty government vehicles in his house, four
Speed Boats, one movable Crain and generator sets, which we went to recover
before the incident. “We will not give up the battle, we will go back to his
house because the property belongs to Imo government,” Ndubuaku said.
Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, the Special Assistant on Media to
Okorocha, however said the recovery committee was attacked by the former
governor’s sympathisers and passersby. He said that the recovery team went to
Okorocha’s house without a court order, adding that they invaded Okorocha’s
residence with no fewer than 50 thugs.