CRY OF ABUSE OF JUDICIAL PROCESS AS POLICE ARRAIGN LP EBONYI SENATORIAL CANDIDATE

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Police in Ebonyi State have arraigned the Senatorial Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for Ebonyi South District, Chief Linus Okorie on five count charge.

Chief Okorie was last Sunday arrested by Ebubeagu Security Outfit in a dramatic twist and handed over to the police following a petition by the State Attorney General, Mr. Cletus Ofoke, over alleged defamatory remark against Governor David Umahi and violent incitement.

He was arraigned before Magistrate Court 1 Abakaliki where the five Count charge was read to him.

The charged included conspiracy to commit advance free fraud, cause problem in Onicha Local Government Area in April this year, promote communal war between Ishinkwo and Abomege communities, and threatening the life of Governor Umahi online as well as circulating allegation of financial impropriety involving over #6 billion.

The offence according to the count charge was punishable under various sections of criminal code laws of Ebonyi State.

After reading the charge, the trial Magistrate, Nnenna Ogodo, declined jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter and remanded the defendant in the National Correctional Centre Abakaliki.

Reacting, Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Chikaodili Nomeh, described the arrest and arraignment of Chief Okorie as an abuse of judicial process, alleging that the state government resorted to self help considering that there was a court order by Justice Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja, which restrained the government and the police from arresting Chief Okorie pending the determination of the substantive matter.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU