Ebonyi state police command has said that Labour Party (LP) senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial zone, Linus Okorie is in its custody.
It was reported earlier that the two-term House of Representative candidate who represented Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency, was taken away by “gunmen” on Sunday morning.
Ebonyi police command spokesperson, Chris Anyanwu who confirmed that Linus who is Governor David Umahi’s opponent in 2023 senatorial election was arrested by Ebubeagu Security operatives and taken to Old Government House Abakaliki, debunked reports that he was abducted.
He said the Police upon hearing reports that Linus was abducted, swung into action and later traced him to the head office of the Ebubeagu Security Outfit at the Old Government House, Abakaliki.
Anyanwu revealed that Okorie was arrested for inciting violence in the State, falsely accusing Governor David Umahi and alleged involvement in drug related offences.
He said;
“Police detectives were briefed on why he was arrested which include his activities and utterances that incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha LGA which led to suspected IPOB/ESN operatives or unknown gunmen to unleash mayhem in the area, leaving seven (7) persons dead at the end of that fracas.
“Hence, the case has now been taken over by the Police Command for a scrupulous investigation.”
Anyanwu also alleged Okorie was severally invited by the Security and Intelligence Bureau of the Command over a petition dated 23/3/2022 by the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, alleging that he was spreading fake news against Umahi.
In the petition, Okorie allegedly accused the Governor of illegally withdrawing N6.7 billion from State Government’s Account to fund the Appeal Court Judgment against his removal from office, etc.
The police spokesperson added;
“Similar to the above is another series of false allegations against the Government of Ebonyi State and the Police Command in his social media handles.
“When invited by the SIB over the false allegations/petition,
Honourable Linus Abaa Okorie in his characteristic pompous manner refused vehemently to report to the SIB for a chat. Rather he chose to file fallacious suits against the Police Command.
“It is also pertinent to mention that Honourable Linus Abaa Okorie also have a pending case in which he is implicated in a drug-related offence where the suspects purported to be his agents were arrested for Hard drug sales and use at his City Hub Inn, Mile 50, Abakaliki. Case was later transfered to the NDLEA for further necessary actions.
“Ebubeagu is a lawfully established local security outfit by the House of Assembly and Government of Ebonyi State. If the outfit as empowered by the State Law, arrests anybody, it shouldn’t be interpreted as abduction or kidnapping because those terms mean different things.
“However, it is expected that the outfit after effecting such arrest, should hand over the matter to the Police for further investigation and other necessary actions which has played out in this instance”.
“In view of the above, Dr David Ogbonna of Hon Linus Okorie CaringHeart Foundation is warned to henceforth know the implication of wrong choice of words when next dishing out information for public consumption otherwise he will face the dire consequences as enshrined in the laws of the land.”
