Eko Hot Blog reports that a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, SP Chris Anyanwu, disclosed Okorie’s arrest following initial rumours and a press release by Dr. David Ogbonna of the Hon. Linus Okorie Caringheart Foundation that claimed that the politician had been kidnapped on Sunday.
Anyanwu stated that the police operatives were briefed on why Okorie was arrested by Ebube Agu, a local law enforcement outfit, which includes his activities and utterances that allegedly incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha local government area of the State.
He said that, according to the brief by operatives of Ebube Agu, the former lawmaker’s utterances allegedly led suspected IPOB/ESN operatives or unknown gunmen to unleash mayhem in the area, leaving seven persons dead at the end of the fracas.
SP Anyanwu noted that the case has now been taken over by the State Police Command for preliminary investigation, adding that Okorie was severally invited by the Security and Intelligence Bureau of the Command over a petition dated 23/3/2022, authored by the State’s Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice.
He said that the petition alleged that Okorie was spreading fake news against Governor David Umahi, accusing the governor of illegally withdrawing N6.7 billion from State Government’s Account to fund the Appeal Court judgement against his removal from office, among others.
“Similar to the above is another series of false allegations against the Government of Ebonyi State and the Police Command in his social media handles.
“When invited by the SIB over the false allegations/petition, Honourable Linus Abaa Okorie in his characteristic pompous manner refused vehemently to report to the SIB for a chat. Rather he chose to file fallacious suits against the Police Command.
“It is also pertinent to mention that Honourable Linus Abaa Okorie also has a pending case in which he is implicated in a drug-related offence where the suspects purported to be his agents were arrested for Hard drug sales and use at his City Hub Inn, Mile 50, Abakaliki,” the PPRO stated.
He said that the case was later transferred to the NDLEA for further necessary actions.
“CP Aliyu Garba, therefore, makes it categorically clear that Hon Okorie was neither abducted nor kidnapped and warns that people should desist from painting pictures of insecurity in the State by propagating unfounded rumours,” he added.
He maintained that Ebube Agu is a lawfully established local security outfit by the House of Assembly and Government of Ebonyi State, adding that if the outfit as empowered by the State law, arrests anybody, it shouldn’t be interpreted as abduction or kidnapping.
“This is because those terms mean different things. However, it is expected that the outfit after effecting such arrest, should hand over the matter to the Police for further investigation and other necessary actions which have played out in this instance,” he stated.
The Police spokesman warned Dr Ogbonna of Hon Linus Okorie CaringHeart Foundation “to henceforth know the implication of the wrong choice of words when next dishing out information for public consumption,” adding that otherwise, he will face the “dire consequences as enshrined in the laws of the land.”
“The CP further reassures the good people of Ebonyi State that there is no cause for alarm and advises that everyone should go about their lawful businesses without any fear of molestation,” he added.
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