Umahi’s opponent for senate seat remanded in prison for ‘murder’

A magistrate court has ordered the remand of Linus Okorie, the Labour Party senatorial candidate for Ebonyi south, at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Abakaliki, the state capital, over alleged conspiracy and murder.

Okorie, a former member of the house of representatives, is contesting for the same legislative seat with Dave Umahi, governor of the state.

Chris Anyanwu, spokesperson of the state police command, in a statement on Monday, said apart from alleged drug-related offenses, Okorie’s activities and utterances had “incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha community which led to suspected gunmen to unleash mayhem in the area in 2021.”

He was also accused of  “spreading fake news against umahi.”

The police said the former lawmaker refused to honour several police invitations.

He was arrested on Sunday over allegations of drug peddling and arraigned on Tuesday.

The charge dated April 5, 2022, marked MAB/574/2022, accused Okorie of conspiring among others to commit felony to murder, promoting inter-communal war and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 516A of Criminal Code Law, Cap 33 volume 1 Law of Ebonyi 2009.

The accused and other defendants now at large were alleged to have caused the death of one Donatus Okoro — an offence punishable under section 319 of the criminal code law, Cap 33 vol. 1 laws of Ebonyi 2009.

At the court session, Chikodili Nome, lead counsel to Okorie, said the charges against his client was just to keep him behind bars and weaken him and his supporters.

Nome said the state government was resorting to self-help.

He stated that the suit was an abuse of court process as there was a subsisting order of a federal high court barring the police and the state government from arresting and prosecuting Okorie.

“We have seen details of the charges. What happened here today is an abuse of judicial proceedings,” he said

“Anyone who is not comfortable with the judgement should go to court of appeal and not resort to self-help.”

Linda Ogodo, presiding magistrate, held that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

She, however, ordered the remand of the accused at the correctional centre, pending issuance of legal advice.

The matter was adjourned to November 4, 2022.