The police in Imo State on Sunday arrested the senator representing Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Rochas Okorocha.
It was gathered tht Okorocha, who is also a former governor of the state, was arrested for allegedly destroying government and security vehicles and also breaking into a property the government had seized from his wife, Nkechi.
The state Commissioner for Lands, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, on Friday, said the government had recovered Royal Palm Estate on Akachi Road, Owerri, allegedly belonging to Nkechi.
Onuegbu added that the government had sealed up the place till further notice.
He said the seizure was in compliance with the directive of the Imo State gazette on the report of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry on the recovery of lands and other related matters.
He said, “This is as a result of the recommendation of the commission that all illegal lands and structures acquired by the administrations between 2006 and 2019 should be taken over by the government.”
The commissioner said the current administration was doing everything to recover all the stolen properties of the state, especially those carted away by the previous administration.
Onuegbu added that in line with the 3Rs mantra initiative of Governor Hope Uzodinma, the state must continue to work in line with the relevant laws and recommendations of government agencies and commissions no matter whose ox is gored.
It was also gathered that Okorocha on Sunday stormed the estate and warned Uzodinma and security operatives to stay off the property.
“On arrival, he demanded to enter the estate, telling the security personnel guarding the place that there was no court order to back up the sealing of the building,” a source said.
“Hence, he insisted on entering the building, which he eventually did after the locks were broken by his men.
“Gunshots started when two of Uzodinma’s aides, Chinasa Nwaneri and Eric Uwakwe, arrived at the place with another group of police officers and young men.
“Open confrontation started, leading to sporadic shooting. One of Okorocha’s men got hit by a bullet.”
