Former Imo State deputy governor Gerald Irona has been remanded in prison by a Magistrates court sitting in Owerri.
The Imo State Police Command arraigned Irona on three charges bordering on treason, illegal possession of state government property and for making utterances likely to cause public nuisance.
The Magistrate, Chike Ezerioha ordered that Irona be remanded in prison pending the bail issue being heard and determined by the state high court in Owerri.
Earlier, defense counsel had argued that Irona should be granted bail based on his own recognizance.
Prosecutors, however, said the judge did not have jurisdiction to hear the case because one of the charges against Irona bordered on a felony.
However, the Magistrate agreed with the prosecution counsel that he had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter or grant bail to the accused, explaining that only the high court could entertain the matter and rule on the bail application.
He said the prosecuting attorney must provide all documents to the defense counsel in order to take the next legal action.
Also, he ordered that the case file be transferred to the state Department of Public Prosecutions.
The defense counsel and legal counsel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kissinger Ikeokwu, expressed confidence that Irona would be granted bail at the high court.