By Gideon Njoku
An order has been given for the arrest of the immediate past governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, by the Imo State Government.
The order for a citizen’s arrest placed on Okorocha was given on Thursday at a press conference jointly addressed in Owerri by the Secretary to the IMSG, Barr. Uche Onyeagocha and the State Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo.
Both men announced that a Citizen’s arrest order has been placed on Okorocha. The implication is that any Imo citizen has been given the order to arrest Okorocha anytime he steps on Imo soil.
The order was consequent upon a near fatal attack on Hon. Jasper Ndubuaku, by scores of youths, alleged to be thugs at Okorocha’s residence at Spibat, Owerri.
Ndubuaku, Special Adviser to Governor Emeka Ihedioha on Security, is also the Chairman of the Task Force set up by the Imo State government to recover alleged looted properties of the state by Okorocha in the dying days of his administration.
Members of the Task Force led by Ndubuaku had gone, with a court order, to recover a number of the looted items which, according to the Chairman, include:
20 government vehicles, four speed boats, one movable Crain and power generating sets.
But on arrival at the gate, scores of dangerously armed youths pounced on them, and according to Ndubuaku, shot at, and matchetted him severally, even though he admits none pierced his body.
But a video which has gone viral showed Ndubuaku being beaten severely, stripped of his top, and pushed into a gutter by many of the youths. At least, two of the attackers could be heard ordering that he be killed there.
This attack comes days after the former governor, while addressing his supporters, who had gathered to welcome him to Owerri, on his first visit since leaving officer, incited them to beat up anybody who accosts any of them to retrieve any alleged looted property. “Harrass them back, beat them up and treat them as armed robbers. They are armed robbers”.
He also told them to await the real governor – his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who he told them, would soon reclaim his “victory”, and be sworn in as governor.
Apparently, neither the Task Force team, not the state government took Okorocha’s order seriously. As they dealth with Ndubuaku, policemen stationed in front of the former Governor’s residence, watched without intervening.
But, speaking on the attack on Ndubuaku on Thursday, Sam Onwuemeode, Media Adviser to Okorocha, said those who attacked the team were no thugs, but youths sympathetic to his boss.
He also alleged that the team had no court order, and had refused to make the list of what they were looking for public.
A couple of days ago, some traditional rulers in the state had threatened to embark on a street protest against Okorocha, and so did some Imo elders who warned him at a press conference, after his inciting speech, that: “Enough is Enough”.
