Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State, said on Sunday that his successor, Governor Hope Uzodinma, must have lied against him and his family for the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to order the arrest of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.
Okorocha, who bemoaned the arrest, claimed that there was no arrest warrant or invitation before police stormed the church where Nwosu was arrested on Sunday.
The senator representing Imo West Senatorial District also claimed that state police command operatives invaded St Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama Obieri in the state’s Nkwerre Local Government Area, pushed his wife, Nkechi, to the ground, and tore his first daughter, Uloma’s clothes.
Okorocha, speaking to journalists at his Spilbat mansion in Owerri, the state capital, claimed that the state governor, Uzodinma, duped the police IG, Baba, into desecrating the church of worship by arresting Nwosu.
According to the former governor, the state government wanted to frame Nwosu for “non-performance.”
Okorocha stated that Uzodinma had not hidden his animosity toward him and his family.
The senator stated that he was waiting for the governor to name the sponsors of the state’s insecurity on January 3 or to accept responsibility for the state’s killings.
Okorocha demanded that the police release his son-in-law or bring him to court within the next 24 hours, as required by the constitution.
He also stated that, despite the fact that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Hussaini, had confirmed that Nwosu was being held in police custody, he had yet to make contact with his son-in-law since his arrest.
He said, “Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the church for an outing service, when a group of men in police uniform started shooting while the sermon was ongoing.
“In the course of their activities, they pushed down my wife and tore my daughter’s clothes. No warrant of arrest. No invitation. We suspected kidnapping at first. Many people were injured while running. Uche Nwosu was dragged into a bus carrying Imo State Government number plate.
“They were identified as policemen from Imo State Government House by their colleagues attached to Uche for the burial (of his mother). I got the CP who said that the IGP approved his arrest.
“The shock of such an arrest without a warrant and humiliating members of my family is unfortunate. Most security operatives in Imo know nothing about the arrest. I don’t know what they framed up.
“The IGP could only do this on high-level misinformation from Hope Uzodinma. Over 100 gunshots to arrest Uche Nwosu. What kind of ruthless behaviour on an innocent citizen of Nigeria?
“Uzodinma wants to frame me up by all means. Uzodinma has to answer for most of the activities going on. Uzodinma must mention the names of those who are responsible for insecurity in Imo State or he should be held responsible for all the killings in the state.
“Uzodinma has framed up something against Uche Nwosu. Buhari should be informed about what is happening in Imo State. Hundreds of citizens are being killed in this state.”
