By Adadainfo
The arrest of former member of the House of Representatives and Labour Party’s senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South, Hon Linus Akpaa Okorie, by the Ebubeagu security operatives was legitimate, Uchenna Orji, commissioner for information, Ebonyi State, said on Wednesday during ‘Political Voices’, a political programme of Dream 92.5fm, Enugu.
Okorie was allegedly arrested by Ebubeagu on Sunday morning, and remanded at their Old Ebonyi Government House office. Dr David Ogbonna, director of Caring Heart Foundation, founded by Hon Okorie, had in a statement, claimed that Okorie was tortured. According to him, “Okorie was picked up in the morning. We tracked his phone number at the Old Government House, then raised an alarm. That was around 6pm. Afterwards, police picked him.”
The state police command, in a statement by its PRO, Chris Anyanwu, said the command heard about the alleged abduction of Okorie and swung into action, and found him at the office of Ebubeagu.
Our correspondent reports that Okorie was later charged at an Ebonyi Magistrates’ Court, and afterwards remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, till November 4, 2022, for hearing. He faces charges on inciting communal violence, murder and drug peddling.
Ebonyi State commissioner for information, Uchenna Orji, however, defended Ebubuagu. He said, “Ebubeagu has regional colouration. Ebonyi State enacted the law on Ebubeagu. It is established by the Law of the State House of Assembly. It collaborates with similar security agencies, and that is why there is law and order in the state. We don’t observe sit-at-home, and there are no cases of abduction in the state. They are permitted to arrest and hand over to the police for prosecution.
“Okorie can be arrested if he committed crimes. It can be by invitation. He was legitimately arrested by Ebubeagu. Linus committed copious crimes. Police invited him, but he failed to appear. Ebubeagu helped. Ebubeagu is working.”
