Former Governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West in the Senate, Rochas Okorocha, has raised the alarm over the alleged selling of his personal property in the state by Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration.
This was contained in a release signed by his Special Adviser (media), Sam Onwuemeodo, and made available to The Guardian, yesterday.
Okorocha listed the property to include over 50 vehicles belonging to him, his aides, security personnel, relatives, political associates and Rochas Foundation College.
He disclosed that the property was impounded by the state government when they allegedly invaded his wife’s hotel, Royal Palm Hotel, Owerri, in February 2021.
He further stated that instead of taking the vehicles and other valuables to the court premises or police headquarters, pending the determination of the matter in court, they are rather taken to the Government House.
The former governor, who accused Uzodimma of playing God, called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to intervene and call the governor to order in the interest of peace and justice.
The release reads in part: “Now that we have raised the alarm, it is left for government or the police to tell Imo people and Nigerians in general, why they auctioned Okorocha’s private or personal vehicles, those of his security personnel, aides, associates, and Rochas Foundation College recovered from the Royal Palm Hotel, Akachi Road, Owerri, on February 21, 2021.
“In all cases involving Okorocha and the government, including the one decided by Justice Njemanze (rtd), which is now at the Appeal Court, the government never mentioned Okorocha’s personal cars and those of his aides, associates, his security details, Rochas Foundation College, et al, for any reason. Why auction his vehicles and those of others?
“We call on the IGP to get the Commissioner of Police in Imo on February 21, 2021, to release the vehicles he recovered at the Royal Palm Hotel, as well as other important materials and documents in some of the cars. The police have a duty and explanations to make.”
Efforts to reach the state government through the Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, to react to the allegation was not successful.