The rift between Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha and his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, took a new dimension as the Governor ordered a citizen’s arrest against the Senator.
Rochas Okorocha, the senator representing Imo West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, was alleged to have ordered an assault on a government official, Mr. Jasper Ndubuaku, who is the chairman of the state government’s property recovery committee and Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters.
In a statement issued by Secretary to the State government, Uche Onyeaguocha on Thursday, 29th August 2019, Ihedioha placed Okorocha on security watch and urged Imo citizens to arrest him and alert the government whenever they found him in the state.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a video, trending online on Thursday, captured some thugs beating Ndubuaku at Okorocha’s residence on Spibat Avenue, Owerri.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Rabiu Ladodo and SSG confirmed the incident to newsmen during a joint news briefing in Owerri, announcing that a citizen’s arrest had been declared on Okorocha over the incident.
They claimed that Okorocha hired thugs to attack Ndubuaku, adding that the senator representing Imo West would be arrested and prosecuted anytime he entered the state.
Ndubuaku, while narrating his ordeal, alleged that he was beaten at Okorocha’s residence and thrown into a gutter by some thugs.
He also disclosed that he was first held hostage for some hours by the thugs in the presence of security men attached to Okorocha’s residence despite having a court order to search the 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.
