The government of Imo State has ordered a citizen’s arrest against former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, over alleged assault on a government official, Mr. Jasper Ndubuaku.
The Secretary to State Government, SSG, Mr. Uche Onyeaguocha, gave the order following the alleged assault on the Chairman of the Recovery of Government Properties, Mr. Jasper Ndubuaku, 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 found him in the state.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that a video, trending online on Thursday, showed some thugs beating Ndubuaku at Okorocha’s residence on Spibatt Avenue, Owerri.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Rabiu Ladodo, and SSG also confirmed the incident to newsmen at a joint news briefing in Owerri.
They announced that a citizen’s arrest had been declared on Okorocha over the incident.
According to them, Okorocha hired thugs to attack Ndubuaku, who doubles as Special Adviser to Gov. Emeka Ihedioha on Security matters.
They said that Okorocha, now representing Imo West in the Senate would be arrested and prosecuted anytime he entered the state.
Narrating his ordeal to NAN, Ndubuaku alleged that he was beaten at Okorocha’s residence and thrown into a gutter by some thugs.
He also 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 crane 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.
Reacting to the government’s order, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, the Special Assistant on Media to Okorocha, 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.
