Imo violence: Okorocha will be prosecuted if found culpable, say police

The police command in Imo says Rochas Okorocha, former governor of the state, will be prosecuted if found culpable of any offence.

Okorocha was arrested on Sunday for unsealing a property seized by the state government on Friday.

Thereafter, the senator representing Imo west was escorted off the property by a detachment of police officers.

Royal Palm Hotel, the property reportedly owned by the senator’s wife, is said to be under investigation by the Imo government, hence the sealing.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme on Monday, Orlando Ikeokwu, Imo police spokesman, said the lawmaker was invited for questioning and was later released on Sunday night.

“He was released later at night. If anybody is found culpable, definitely, he will be charged to court,” the spokesman said.

“If investigation proves that he [Okorocha] has committed an offence, he will be charged to court.”

In a recorded interview with Channels Television on Monday, Okorocha alleged that police officers watched as thugs attacked his associates with machetes.

“I came back from an occasion and proceeded to Royal Palm Hotel to enquire what actually happened. On getting there, I saw a lot of thugs,” the former governor had said.

“They started molesting, cutting my boys, shooting. But the police were there too, and they did nothing and said nothing.

“They were macheting… my orderlies rushed me to a room and locked me up. Those boys had teargas, police also were throwing teargas. As they were advancing, the police were backing them up; and they were coming and were shooting.”