Okorocha, Imo Govt clash over Nwosu’s arrest

• My wife, daughter humiliated, says ex-governor

• Imo govt: we have no hand in Police operation

The Imo State Government and the Senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday traded words  over the arrest of the 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) Chief Uche Nwosu.

Nwosu, who is also Okorocha’s son-in-law, was arrested at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama-Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state by policemen in connection with “a case that is under investigation.”

The manner of his arrest had triggered rumours that he was kidnapped until the Police Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Michael Abattam, clarified that he was arrested, following an order from above.

It was alleged that “gunmen” stormed the church during the outing service of Nwosu’s mother, Jemamah Nwosu, and shot sporadically into the air.

Associates also alleged that the “gunmen” bundled the politician into the trunk of a waiting vehicle before speeding away..

But Okorocha, who said his wife, Nnenna, and daughter, Uloma Nwosu, were in the church when the operation took place, said  Governor Hope Uzodimma  ”is 100 per cent responsible”  for the arrest of Nwosu.

“Hope Uzodimma deceived Abuja for the arrest of Uche Nwosu. Hope Uzodinma is 1,000 per cent responsible for the arrest.  It is either Uzodinma is the IGP (Inspector-General of Police) or the governor of Imo State,” he told reporters at his Owerri residence.

The former governor, who claimed that his son-in-law was “dragged into a bus carrying Imo State Government number,” said he did not know his whereabouts.

He also accused the operatives of humiliating his wife by pushing her down and his daughter by tearing her clothes.

The former governor, who described the incident as “the worst humiliation in my life,” said President Muhammadu Buhari “should be informed about what is happening in Imo State.”

His words: “My wife was pushed down and my daughter’s clothes were torn into pieces by the policemen who came into the church to arrest Uche Nwosu with no warrant of arrest.

“I want to know the offence my son-in-law has committed that they rough handled him because I’m yet to be informed. I have called the Inspector General of Police. His number was switched off. I have called the Commissioner of Police (Hussaini Rabiu). He said the order came from above.

“Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the church for an outing service, when a group of men in police uniform while the sermon was ongoing, started shooting.  In the course of their activities, they pushed down my wife and they 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 plate number.

“They were identified as policemen from Imo State Government House by their colleagues attached to Uche for the burial. I got the CP who said that IGP approved his arrest.

“The shock of such arrest without warrant and humiliating members of my family are unfortunate. Most security operatives in Imo State 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.

The Nation