Court Stops Police From Arresting Ihedioha, Irona, Others

The High Court sitting in Abuja has given an order to the Nigerian police not to arrest the House of Reps member-elect, Ideato Federal Constituency, Ikenga Ugochinyere; former Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha and former Deputy governor, Gerald Irona.

The court also banned the police from inviting the above mentioned persons for interrogation.

The court in a ruling delivered by Justice A.S. Adepoju set aside the police invitation letter dated March 13, 2023 sent to Ugochinyere, Ihedioha and Irona.

Ruling in the suit between Ugochinyere and seven respondents including the governor of Imo State, State Security Services, Nigeria Police Force, Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police Imo State, Ebubeagu Security Network and the Deputy Inspector General in charge of Federal Investigation and Intelligence Bureau; the court stated: “It is hereby ordered that the letter dated March 13, 2023, titled “INVESTIGATION ACTIVITIES- RE: CASE OF MURDER(SIC), KIDNAPPING AND ARSON” be set aside pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

The court further held that “the respondents are restrained whether by themselves, agents, officers, staff, privies or howsoever described from giving any effect, carrying out, proceeding with, arresting, further inviting or taking any other steps in furtherance of or in connection with the said letter of invitation dated March 13, 2023, as it affects the applicant pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.”

Earlier, in a letter addressed to the Imo state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Charles Ugwu, the Police invited the applicant and others in connection to what it called the investigation into a case of murder, kidnapping and arson.

By the ruling of the court, the Imo state police command which has been accused by the member elect for its alleged complicity in the multiple attacks on his person and his home and for failing to conduct any form of investigation has been stopped in this fresh move to arrest Ugochinyere.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to April 4, 2023 for a hearing.