Ex-deputy governor released from prison

Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Gerald Irona, has been released from the Owerri Correctional Centre, seven days after he was detained in the facility.

Mr. Irona, on March 9, was re-arrested after being arraigned before a judge by the police in the country on charges of treason, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.

He was released on Thursday.

Walter Duru, the media special adviser to Mr. Irona, confirmed the development to newsmen in Owerri on Friday, Vanguard newspaper reported.

Mr. Duru said the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the release of Mr. Irona.

“He is now a free man. I can confirm with you now,” he said.

Mr. Irona was charged in court by police in the country with three counts of treason.

The three-count charge reads: “That you Hon Gerald Irona in January 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri Magistrates’ District, have conspired with other persons now in common, to commit the crime of: treason and thereby commit an offense punishable under section 37. ( 2) of the Criminal Code, cap c 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo State.

“If you Hon Gerald Irona in January 2020, in Owerri in the Owerri Magistrate District, have made several statements that will make Imo State ungovernable and immediately the criminals carry out some attacks in Imo State with the intention of intimidating or stunning. the governor of Imo State and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 37 of the Penal Code, cap, c 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, applicable in Imo State.

“That you Hon Gerald Irona on the 15th of January 2020, at Owerri in Owerri Magistrate District, you should convert to your own use two land cruiser jeeps (V8 and V6) and one Toyota Hilux vehicle worth N493 million property of Imo State Government. By doing so an offense punishable under Section 390 (9) of the Penal Code, cap c 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, applicable in Imo State.

The background

Mr. Irona served as deputy governor under Governor Emeka Ihedioha from May 2019 to January 2020, when the Supreme Court annulled the election and declared Hope Uzodinma as the governor of the state.

The former deputy governor was arrested by the police on February 8 at Owerri Residence.

He was arraigned on a three-count charge before CN Ezerioha, a magistrate, on Thursday after he was remanded in prison.

On Tuesday, he went to the State High Court in Imo to seek bail.

The former deputy governor’s counsel, SI Imo, prayed the court to free his client.

But police counsel opposed the bail application, arguing that the judge would be breaking the law when the application was not filed by the prosecutor.

After hearing from the lawyer, the judge refused to grant bail to Mr. Irona.

The judge then adjourned the case until March 22 so prosecutors could file a counter-bail affidavit.

Meanwhile, the police, in a letter addressed to the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State, Charles Ugwu, summoned Mr. Irona over the murder, kidnapping and arson case.

Also invited was the former governor of the state, Mr. Ihedioha, and the spokesperson of the United Political Party Coalition, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

In the letter, dated March 13, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Barde, asked Mr. Ugwu to produce the three men at the State Crime Bureau last Thursday at 10 o’clock.

The trio are PDP leaders.

It is not clear, so far, if the meeting has been completed or not.

Governor Uzodinma of Imo State has repeatedly accused members of opposition political parties, especially the PDP, of being behind the insecurity in the state.

The governor has, in December, threatened with extinction, the name of the alleged sponsor of insecurity in the country, but later he will make a U-turn, two weeks after, he said he prefers to leave the security agencies “to do their work” and demand that they meet. can be misunderstood.