Court Remands Ex-Imo State Deputy Governor In Prison | READ WHY

The presiding magistrate, C. N Ezerioha, after hearing the prosecution and defence counsels in Owerri on Thursday, ordered that Irona be kept in prison while also noting that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter.

Irona who served as deputy governor of the state between May 29, 2019 and January 14, 2020, was arrested in his house in Owerri, on Wednesday by security operatives.

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A separate statement released by Irona's media aide, Destiny Ugorji and Imo PDP spokesperson Collins Opuruozor immediately after his arrest, accused the APC led government in Imo state of having a hand in Irona's ordeal.

Ugorji's statement read;

"As part of its strategy towards weakening opposition in Imo State, the Imo State Government, Wednesday, orchestrated the arrest of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Engr. Gerald Irona, over trumped-up charges.

"Irona's arrest came on the heels of a scheduled House of Assembly and gubernatorial election, fixed to hold nationwide on Saturday, March 11, 2023.

"As at the time of this statement, Wednesday afternoon, the former Deputy Governor had written his Statement at the Police, a bail bond issued, signed, and all the bail conditions fulfilled.

"There is however a twist, following pressure from the Imo State Government House, allegedly ordering the State Police command to detain the former Deputy Governor until after Saturday's election.

"Let it be clear to Nigerians and the entire world that Wednesday's arrest of former Deputy Governor Gerald Irona is politically motivated and Governor Hope Uzodinma is clearly behind it.

"It is on record that a day before the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the home of the House of Representatives candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kingsley Uju was invaded by agents of the state, after earlier attempts on his life. The CUPP spokesman, Ikenga Ugochinyere's home was also severely attacked, lives and property destroyed, after a series of attempts on his life.

"Senator Hope Uzodinma must realise that power is transient, and nobody occupies the seat of power forever.

"Nigerians must rise to resist this fascist regime in Imo State. Let it be known that there is no amount of intimidation that will save the unpopular Hope Uzodinma-led administration in Imo State from another round of defeat in Saturday's election."

Opuruzor's statement read;

"the PDP in Imo State alerts Nigerians to the ongoing armed invasion of the Owerri residence of the former Deputy Governor of the State, Gerald Irona, by Ebubeagu Militia Force directly under the command of Senator Hope Uzodinma.

"For over an hour today, March 8, 2023, the residence of the Rt. Hon. Irona has been under the occupation of a full squad of the ferocious, murderous and bloodthirsty operatives of Ebubeagu Militia, who have continued to terrorize everyone presents in search of the former Deputy Governor to murder.

"Our Party notes that the APC-led administration of Senator Hope Uzodinma in the State has been consistent and unrelenting in its quest to eliminate all opposition leaders, so as to pave the way for its oppressive reign of bloodshed and treasury looting to continue apace.

"Between December 2022 and early February 2023, it was a state policy to assassinate our candidate for Ideato Federal Constituency, who now is a House of Representatives Member-elect, Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere. Ikenga suffered three attacks at the hands of this rogue regime.

"In the last two weeks of February, the focus of the dictatorial regime became to eliminate another candidate of our Party, Uju Kingsley Chima.

"Two very brutal armed attacks were levied on him in quick succession. And he participated in the election from exile. It has never been this messy in Imo!

"Today's attack and assassination attempt on Rt. Hon. Irona is the height of desperation by a government whose expiry date has already been fixed. And Imo PDP demands an end to this madness!

"Our Party finds it deeply troubling that despite our calls on President Mohammadu Buhari to step into this matter and tame the brigandage of the unelected and illegitimate government of Senator Hope Uzodinma, nothing has so far been done.

"Further, Imo PDP totally condemns the silence of the security agencies in the face of this unabashed abuse of state power and sponsored attacks on innocent citizens of Imo State by a power-drunk tyrant.

"In view of that, our Party reiterates its longstanding demand for the disbandment of the Ebubeagu Militia Force, which has made the lives of Imo people a misery.

"Also, the Inspector General of Police, Director General of the State Security Service and the Chief of Army Staff should redeploy the heads of their agencies in Imo State, in order to reestablish the faith of Imo people in the security agencies."

Responding to the allegation of having a hand in Irona's arrest, the Imo state government through governor Hope Uzodinma's Special Adviser on Public Communications, Collins Ughalaa, said;

"it is unfortunate that the ex-deputy governor's spokesperson could make such an unfounded claim. The governor does not interfere with the affairs of the police. He respects the rule of law. The governor nor the Imo State government have no hands in the arrest of the ex-deputy governor."