A High Court sitting in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has set aside the Police letter of invitation which was sent out to the House of Representatives member-elect for Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, in respect of alleged acts of terrorism, murder, and arson.
The said letter of the invitation obtained by The Eastern Updates was dated the 13th of March, 2023, and was allegedly masterminded by the Imo State Commissioner of Police, the Governor of Imo State and the Nigerian Police against Ugichinyere, former Governor Emeka Ihedioha and Gerald Irona with the sole objective to frame them over the allegations.
Ugochinyere however filed the suit against the Governor of Imo State, State Security Services, Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Imo State, Ebubeagu Security Network and the Deputy Inspector General(DIG) in Charge of FIIB.
In his ruling, Justice A.S. Adepoju stated, ‘It is hereby ordered that the letter dated 13th March 2023 with Reference No. AR3000/ims/dfa/sib/vol.1/58 titled –’INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES- RE: CASE OF MURDER (SIC), KIDNAPPING AND ARSON’ be set aside pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.’
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The Court further held that ‘The Respondents are restrained whether by themselves, agents, officers, staff, privies or howsoever described from giving any effect, carrying out, proceeding with, arresting, further inviting or taking any other steps in furtherance of or in connection with the said letter of invitation dated 13th March 2023 as it affects the Applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.’
By this ruling of the Court, the Imo state Police Command which has been accused by the member-elect of its complicity in the multiple attacks on his person and his home and for failing to conduct any form of investigation has been stopped in this fresh move to arrest Mr Ugochinyere.
In the letter addressed to the Imo State Chairman of PDP Chief Charles Ugwu, the Commissioner of Police invited former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, former Deputy Governor Gerald Irona and House of Representatives member-elect, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere in connection to what it called an investigation into a case of murder, kidnapping and arson.
Many still wonder the Police which has failed to conduct an investigation into the deadly attack on the country home of Mr Ugochinyere which claimed multiple lives including his uncle and over thirty-two vehicles were burnt and also houses could be inviting the victim for an investigation into such a case which was not disclosed.
Stakeholders in Imo politics are of the unanimous opinion that the invitation by the police was politically motivated and the Governor needed to arrest and detain all opposition leaders to enable him to win the House of Assembly election slated for March 18. This opinion many said is predicated on the fact that the invitation was sent through the State Chairman of the PDP when they know that the trio are not officers or agents of the PDP or Chief Ugwu.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to April 4 for hearing.
