Imo govt explains seizure of Okorocha’s property
While the faceoff between Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha lasts, the State has explained the rationale behind the seizing of a property belonging to the former governor.
According to Uzodinma, the confiscation of the property by his administration was in line with a report of a judicial panel set up by the then governor of the state, Emeka Ihedioha.
Uzodinma said: “You will recall that before I became the governor, the Ihedioha administration set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into acquisitions of lands and conversion of government lands for personal property.
The judicial panel of inquiry chaired by a judge met and they concluded their job. And a white paper has since been raised,” Governor Uzodinma told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governor stated that the former governor (Okorocha) now serving senator who was arrested and briefly detained at the police last Sunday, led thugs to unseal the property which was used as a hotel belonging to his wife.
“He went there with thugs himself physically, wounded the policemen there, and wounded the civil defense people,” Uzodinma said while adding that the civil defense officer is currently in the hospital.
According the Governor he was not involved in saga directly or indirectly. He said: “It is a position taken by the government. There is a difference between governor and government,” Uzodinma stated.
“The government of Imo State sealed a property. And I think that if there is anything anybody considers that is not right, the person should go to court to address the issue. Not to take laws into his hand.
“I remember that under Ihedioha, there was a recovery committee, chaired by one Jasper Ndubaku, when they tried to visit Okorocha’s house, they were beaten to a stupor. And the same man who did that is now also doing the same thing,” the governor explained.
Mr Okorocha’s personal aide, Ebere Nzewuji, denied that the senator tried to unseal the property. “When he arrived at the premises, they were confronted with thugs who had guns and machetes, and they were attacking him and his entourage.
“He (Okorocha) can’t go there to make trouble, he went to ask questions. A staff member was beaten up, even the hotel’s guests still had their property inside the hotel.