I did not order Okorocha’s arrest – Gov. Ihedioha

By Lancelot Obiaku

The governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has denied reports that he ordered the arrest of a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha.

This is as he described the reports as a malicious allegation and hate campaign against him.

Ihedioha, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, said the allegation was far from the truth.

Ihedioha said that as a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps who has built an “enduring reputation for respect for rule of law and the independence of the different arms of government”, he would not interfere in the investigation of the former governor for alleged corruption, by the EFCC.

He expressed his belief that the law must be allowed to take its course.

He insisted that the judiciary was the arbiter in matters for which his predecessor, Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West Senatorial District, is accused.

The statement partly read: “As a government, we are also conscious of the hate campaign against Governor Emeka Ihedioha, including, but not limited to the malicious allegation that he ordered the arrest of a citizen, the former Governor of the state, Chief Rochas Okorocha.

“Nothing can be further from the truth. The Governor, who has a distinguished career and concluded his legislative assignment as a Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives, has also built an enduring reputation for respect for rule of law and the independence of the different arms of government.

“In the alleged criminal matters involving the former governor which the relevant agencies are duly investigating, Governor Ihedioha believes that the law must be allowed to take its course as the judiciary is the arbiter in matters for which the former governor is being accused.

“We therefore wish to restate that Governor Ihedioha will not interfere in the investigation of the former governor by relevant agencies but shall continue to abide by and lead Imo state in the established democratic principles as enshrined in the laws of our land.”