A former Governor of Imo State, The Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, has been invited by the Imo State Police Command for interrogation over an investigation in a case of alleged murder, kidnapping and arson.
In a letter addressed to the Imo State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Engr. Charles Ugwu, he was asked to come along with Ihedioha, Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo, the just elected House of Representatives Member for Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, and a former Deputy Governor of the State under Ihedioha, Honourable Gerald Irona.
Irona is already in Police custody since last week when security operatives invaded his home in Owerri and arrested him.
The invited, all chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State, are expected to report by 10.00am on Thursday. 16th March. 2023.
The letter of invitation to them to appear before the Commissioner of Police, Imo State, was dated 13th March 2023, and signed by DCP Ukachi P. Opara, Deputy Commissioner (Admin) for the Commissioner of Police.
The letter stated that on report to the Police, they would “interview the Commissioner of Police through the officer in charge of State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Owerri.”
It reads, partly:
“INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES: RE-CASE OF MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND ARSON
“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 (PDP) Imo State Chapter.
“The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, requests you to come along with the following persons:.
1.Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
- Ugochinyere Ikenga Imo.
3.Hon. Gerald Irona.
to interview the Commissioner of Police, through the officer in charge of State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Owerri.
“Date: Thursday 16th March, 2023.
Time: 10.00am prompt.”
Since the invitation to them became public knowledge, tension has risen to high heaven in the State. The question on the lips of most PDP people is: “Will the Police detain Ihedioha? Will he and the others be arraigned in Court by the Police as was Irona and kept in prison custody?
Insecurity in the State, especially, within the past two years has been unprecedented. A couple of times, the Imo State Government had blamed it on politicians who, it alleges, had sworn to make the State ungovernable. The Government had threatened to name and shame such Politicians.
This invitation by the Police to the Imo PDP leaders comes three days to the House of Assembly Election in the State slated, like in other States, for Saturday, 18th March, 2023.
Unlike most States which would hold their Governorship election same day, that of Imo would hold in November 2023.
How the Police invitation to the PDP Leaders will affect the performance of the Party on Saturday is not known yet. But the PDP, which is the main opposition Party in the State, has described the invitation as “intimidation and a witchhunt.”
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