Alleged treason: Irona, ex-Imo deputy governor, granted bail

A federal high court in the federal capital territory (FCT) has granted bail to Gerald Irona, former Imo state deputy governor.

Irona, who was the deputy governor in Imo between May 29, 2019, and January 14, 2020, was arrested by the police on February 8 at his Owerri residence.

The police have accused him of conspiring with others at large, to commit a treasonable felony.

Police said Irona had threatened to make the state ungovernable for Hope Uzodinma when he (Uzodinma) assumed office in 2020.

The police also alleged that the former deputy governor converted for his personal use, two Land Cruiser Jeeps (V8 and V6) and one Toyota Hilux vehicle valued at N193 million belonging to the state government.

TheCable reported that a court in Owerri had denied him bail.

He was arraigned on a three-count charge before C.N Ezerioha, a magistrate, after which he was remanded in prison.

On March 14, Irona was brought before S.I Opara, a high court judge.

Counsel to the former deputy governor, S.I. Imo, prayed the court to grant bail to his client.

However, the police counsel argued that it would be unlawful for the judge to entertain the bail application when a counter-bail application had not been filed by the prosecutors.

After listening to the arguments, the judge denied Irona bail.

Walter Duru, an aide to the former Imo deputy governor announced his principal’s release on Friday.

Duru said the court ordered the release of Iirona on bail.

“Former deputy governor of Imo state, Gerald Irona, has regained freedom. His release was ordered by a Federal High Court in FCT, and the Nigerian Correctional service had long complied.” Duru said.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo state, in a statement by Collins Opuruzor, the party’s publicity secretary, alleged that Hope Uzodimma, governor of the state, is using the police to attack, harass and arrest leaders of the party in the state.

“Our party notes that this fear which comes from Uzodinma’s unpopularity, cowardice, and shame to participate in any fair electoral contest is common with all despots, and it invariably consumes their regimes,” Opuruzor had said.

“The renewed onslaught against former Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, former deputy Governor, Gerald Irona, and Ikenga Ugochinyere Imo, is therefore the end of the ill-fated regime of Hope Uzodinma in Imo state.

“The former deputy Governor, Gerald Irona, had his residence invaded last week by armed security operatives on the order of Uzodinma. Since then, he has been in detention being prosecuted for doing no wrong.”

The PDP also called on Usman Baba, the inspector-general of police, to relieve Ahmed Barde, Imo police commissioner, of his duty for allegedly conniving with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to attack members of the PDP and its chieftains in the state.