Ebonyi Govt Trades Punches Over Alleged Abduction of LP Candidate

... Okorie not kidnapped~Info Commissioner

From Agu David, Abakaliki There has been series of accusations against Ebonyi state government following the alleged abduction of the former federal lawmaker representing OHANIVO and now Senatorial Candidate under the platform of the Labour Party, Ebonyi South District, Hon Linus Okorie.

The Labour Party candidate was alleged to had been abducted by men of the local vigilante, Ebubeagu. However, the Ebonyi State Commissioner For Information and State Orientation, Barr Uchenna Orji Monday debunked the rumour and said the lawmaker was arrested by Ebubeagu security operative who later transfered him to the Police on alleged harbouring of drug traffickers in his Abakaliki hotel. Reacting, the Coalition of Political Parties, a socio-political group have accused Ebonyi State Police Command of complicity with the state government for the abduction of the former lawmaker with the intention of killing him and called on his immediate unconditional release.

According to the letter signed by the state chairman, Chinedu Elekwachi and his secretary, Mr Okemiri Alex who revealed that the manner Hon Okorie was picked run contrary to official protocol of arrest and appealed to the Inspector General of Police, for the immediate redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police as his actions shows dictate against opposition party members. "Hon. Linus Okorie should be released unconditionally, because anything beyond that is an invitation to anarchy, turmoil and unnecessary heat up of the polity." Orji while briefing newsmen accused the ex-lawmaker of circulating fake news and harbouring illicit drug traffickers in his club facility. According to him,"Linus Okorie was arrested in connection with serial crimes allegedly committed by him and the complicity of his club facility – the City Hub in promoting sundry crimes especially in peddling hard drugs and other illicit substances.” He further exonerated Ebubeagu security operatives of having a hand in the purported torture and abduction of Hon Okorie, saying the operatives are well trained and have the right by law to arrest any erring person in the society. The state Commissioner accused Hon Okorie of committing capital offences, “Contrary to the unfounded, irresponsible and vicious accusations widely circulated in social media for cheap political gains. "We therefore urge members of the public to discountenance all the rumours and unfounded accusations against our hardworking Security Agencies and or government officials as the handiwork of political desperadoes who are bitter and envious about the performance index attained by Ebonyi State Government especially in the creation of enabling physical and social environment for the advancement of our statehood as a people."