Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has been released, the State Police Command said on Monday.
Spokesperson for the state police command, Orlando Ikeokwu, made this known while featuring on a Channels programme.
Ikeokwu said Okorocha was released on Sunday night after he was “invited” for “questioning” over unsealing the Spring Palm Estate linked to his wife, Nkechi.
“He was released later at night,” the PPRO said.
“If anybody is found culpable, definitely, he will be charged to court. If investigation proves that he (Okorocha) has committed an offence, he will be charged to court.”
The former governor had stormed the estate with his supporters and security aides, including policemen, soldiers and personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Sunday morning to forcefully take over the unsealed estate.
Government officials had also mobilised to the estate, leading to a free-for-all, as cars were smashed and many persons injured.
Okorocha had alleged that his successor, Governor Hope Uzodimma, attacked him with “more than 1,000 thugs” but the state Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, dismissed Okorocha’s claim, adding that the former governor’s arrest was in line with the report of a White Paper, which indicated that the Royal Palm Estate in the state was built with taxpayers’ money and hence, not owned by Okorocha wife.
However, Okorocha has boasted that he has the strongest structure in the state and cannot be intimidated by the governor.
Okorocha’s spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo, alleged that Uzodinma’s Special Adviser on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwanari, led an assault on his boss.
Onwuemeodo in a statement said “We are still watching events as they unfold. Okorocha has the strongest political structure in the state and teaming followers. If he had expected the attack, he would not have moved with his personal aides alone.
“Okorocha has never been a violent man. This planned attack but unprovoked and unwarranted has opened a new, but ugly chapter in the politics of the State. We shall react fully to the situation,” the statement read.
