Tobias Sylvester
The senatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Ebonyi South, Hon. Linus Okorie has been arrested for utterances that incited violence in the state.
Linus Okorie Arrested
The two-term House of Representative candidate who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency, was taken away by “gunmen” on Sunday morning.
Sources said Okorie who is Governor David Umahi’s opponent in the 2023 senatorial election, was arrested by Ebubeagu Security operatives and taken to Old Government House Abakaliki,
Reacting in a statement on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ebonyi, Chris Anyanwu, said Okorie was traced to the head office of the Ebubeagu security outfit at the old Government House.
Anyawu noted that Okorie was neither abducted nor kidnapped and warns that people should desist from painting pictures of insecurity in the State by propagating unfounded rumours.
The police spokesman revealed that Okorie was arrested for inciting violence in the State, falsely accusing Governor David Umahi and alleged involvement in drug related offences.
He said “The Commissioner of Police, Ebonyi State Command, CP Aliyu Garba, therefore, makes it categorically clear that Honourable Linus Abaa Okorie was neither abducted nor kidnapped and warns that people should desist from painting pictures of insecurity in the State by propagating unfounded rumours.
“Ebubeagu is a lawfully established local security outfit by the House of Assembly and Government of Ebonyi State. If the outfit as empowered by the State Law, arrests anybody, it shouldn’t be interpreted as abduction or kidnapping because those terms mean different things.
“However, it is expected that the outfit after effecting such an arrest, should hand over the matter to the Police for further investigation and other necessary actions which have played out in this instance.
“In view of the above, Dr David Ogbonna of Hon Linus Okorie CaringHeart Foundation is warned to henceforth know the implication of the wrong choice of words when next dishing out information for public consumption otherwise he will face the dire consequences as enshrined in the laws of the land”.
“Sequel to initial viral rumours renting the air, cum a Press Release accredited to one Dr David Ogbonna of HON LINUS OKORIE CARING HEART FOUNDATION, purporting that Hon Linus Abaa Okorie, a former member of House of Representatives, was ‘abducted/kidnapped’ yesterday (16/10/2022), the Ebonyi State Police Command swung into action and later traced the said Honourable Okorie (who had evaded many Police arrests/invitations), to the head office of the Ebubeagu Security Outfit at the Old Government House.
Anyanwu added “Police detectives were briefed on why he was arrested which includes; his activities and utterances that incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha LGA which led to suspected IPOB/ESN operatives or unknown gunmen to unleash mayhem in the area, leaving seven (7) persons dead at the end of that fracas. Hence, the case has now been taken over by the Police Command for a scrupulous investigation.
“Secondly, Hon Linus Abaa 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, alleging that he was spreading fake news against His Excellency, Engr Dave Umahi accusing the Governor of illegally withdrawing #6.7 billion from State Government’s Account to fund the Appeal Court Judgment against his removal from office, etc.
“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 and 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 case was later transferred to the NDLEA for further necessary actions.”
Anyawu 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, please.
KanyiDaily recalls that Governor David Umahi had also alleged that his main challenger for the APC Ebonyi South Senatorial ticket, Ann Agom-Eze, demanded N20 million from him to withdraw from the race.
