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Tag: Uche Nwosu

  • I’ve begged Okorocha for forgiveness – Imo governor,Hope Uzodinma

    I’ve begged Okorocha for forgiveness – Imo governor,Hope Uzodinma

    Uzodinma, said this while featuring on a tv programme, saying that he has appealed to all and sundry and other people that matter to sheathe their sword and work for the state.

    He urged those still aggrieved to forget the past and work for the state.

    Uzodinma described Okorocha as his brother and friend who became a senator after his tenure as governor.

    “Okorocha is my brother. He is occupying the seat I left in the Senate. I have nothing personal against him.

    “All I’m asking is even if I have done anything that does not go down well with him or anybody, forgive and forget. Let us come together to work for our people,” he said.

    Since his emergence as governor in Imo, both men have been at loggerheads over the affairs of the state.

    Okorocha’s son -in-law, Uche Nwosu was arrested in January at a church service over instability and crisis in Imo state but was later absolved and released after thorough interrogation.

    Recall that recently, Uzodinma and Okorocha met at an event in Abuja where they hugged and talked passionately, thereby creating an impression that they had settled their rift.

  • BREAKING: Personal security officer to Imo Gov, Uzodinma arrested

    BREAKING: Personal security officer to Imo Gov, Uzodinma arrested

    The Chief Personal Security Officer to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, SP Adamu Shaba has been arrested and is currently in custody.

    He was said to have spearheaded the illegal arrest and abduction of former AA Governorship candidate in Imo State, Uche Nwosu.

    Nwosu, son-in-law to Sen. Rochas Okorocha representing Imo West was last Sunday arrested during the outing service of his mother who was recently laid to rest. His arrest at Saint Peters Anglican Church, Nkwere during service has since attracted condemnation with some describing it as desecration of God’s house.

    He was said to have been handcuffed and treated like a criminal before he was transported from Imo to Enugu and later Abuja on a hired private jet.

  • How I was stripped naked, handcuffed on Uzodinma’s orders – Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu

    How I was stripped naked, handcuffed on Uzodinma’s orders – Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu

    The 2019 governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Imo State, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has accused the State Governor of sanctioning his arrest, saying he was stripped half-naked, handcuffed on the orders of the State Governor.

    Nwosu, who is also the son-in-law of a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, now Senator representing Orlu Senatorial District, advised Uzodinma to eschew bitterness and concentrate on governance.

    The former chief of staff stated this while briefing journalists on Tuesday in Owerri, Imo state.

    He denied having hands in the insecurity in the state, saying the young man who accused him in a viral video of giving him money to escalate insecurity in the state was asked to implicate him.

    Nwosu who was visibly angry said those who abducted him manhandled him before ordering him to lie on the floor in the vehicle and one of them rested one of his legs on his head.

    Narrating his ordeal, Nwosu said,” When they drove off, they started calling in Hausa and unknown to them I understand Hausa. They were telling one Shaba, who is the Chief Security Officer that they have got me. At Umuaka, they stopped and ordered that I should get down. At that point, I thought they were to assassinate me. They bundled me into another vehicle and they drove off.”

    According to him,” When we got to Owerri, three other vehicles drove straight to the government house and the one carrying me drove towards Okigwe Road, and I asked them where they were taking me to but they never responded to me. They drove towards Okigwe and stopped. At this point, I thought they wanted to assassinate me. They asked me to remove my cloth, handcuffed me, snapped me, made a video, and sent it to the governor’s CSO.

    “We continued until we got to Enugu airport. We waited for about 90 minutes before a chartered flight arrived. We boarded and we landed in Abuja. We moved to force headquarters and we did interviews. They accused me of sponsoring insecurity in Imo state. I want to thank the IGP who intervened and ordered my release.”

    Reacting, the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said Senator Uzodinma has no hand in Uche Nwosu arrest, it’s the law that caught up with him. It has nothing to do with Uzodinma. If he commits offence, he should be arrested like everyone.”

  • IPOB reveals source of funding, opens up on brains behind insecurity in Imo

    IPOB reveals source of funding, opens up on brains behind insecurity in Imo

    The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has finally revealed their source of funding and also revealed the brains behind insecurity in the South East, especially Imo State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports IPOB made this known in its latest statement titled: Abduction of Uche Nwosu has exposed masterminds of insecurity in Imo state.

    The statement signed by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful averred that no single individual can sponsor the organisation.

    “For the umpteenth time, no single individual can sponsor IPOB. We are a global movement and millions of our family members home and abroad remain the source of our sponsorship.

    “We have never hidden this fact because we are not a secret or terror organisation. IPOB is well grounded and we don’t need any Okorocha, Uche Nwosu or Hope Uzodinma or any politician for that matter to sponsor us.

    “We have no dealings with corrupt politicians and people with questionable source of wealth,” the statement reads in part.

    However, on the arrest of the Imo state 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, Uche Nwosu at St Peter’s Anglican Church on Sunday, the group condemned the incident, stressing that Nwosu’s incident of Sunday has again vindicated the group.

    “This is another vindication that IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN) are not responsible for the numerous attacks, abductions/kidnappings in Imo State contrary to false accusations and propaganda, But God Almighty, Chukwu Okike Abiama, has exposed them this time around.

    “It’s now transparently obvious to all who the masterminds of the abductions/ killings of many traditional rulers and religious leaders including politicians in Imo State and other parts of South East are.

    “It is also now clear who created unknown gunmen to demonise and implicate IPOB and ESN operatives. God Almighty Chukwu Okike Abiama who designed this fight for Biafra freedom and independence has always vindicated us and will continue to vindicate IPOB/ESN,” the statement added.

  • Anglican Church blows hot over arrest of Okorocha’s son-in-law

    Anglican Church blows hot over arrest of Okorocha’s son-in-law

    …we want to see those who desecrated St Peter’s Church punished – Bishop Okeke

    The Most Rev Dr David O. C Onuoha Archbishop, Anglican Province of Owerri has broken his silence after the invasion of St Peter’s Church Eziama Obaire by the police on Sunday.

    The Archbishop in a statement made available to newsmen condemned what he called the “gestapo style” invasion.

    According to him, “That the police jumped inside the church in a gestapo style when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly condemnable.”

    Though, he said the Church was at a loss over why caution was thrown to the winds by the police, “The Church will in the next few days engage the Nigerian Police in a dialogue to truly understand the reasons behind this dastardly act and how to avoid a repeat occurrence.”

    The statement titled: Re: Desecration of St Peter’s Church Eziama Obaire reads below:

    It was a black Sunday yesterday December 26 2021 as armed men in uniform invaded St Peter’s Anglican Church Eziama Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area, Diocese of Orlu in Imo State and roundly desecrated God’s sanctuary.

    The officiating priest had barely concluded the celebration and administration of the Holy Eucharist, ready for the end of year thanksgiving, when armed men stormed the church. The Nigerian Police latter explained that it was for the purpose of effecting an arrest.

    Much as we are not concerned or interested in the reason for this invasion, which is unprecedented in the more than 160 years history of the church in this state, we are gravely worried and disturbed that worshippers were greatly frightened, worried, confused and completely disorganized by the presence of heavily armed security operatives in the church service thereby disrupting the worship of God’s people.

    That the police jumped inside the church in a gestapo style when the service was in full session is reprehensible, primitive, and highly condemnable. We are at a great loss why the police decided to throw caution to the winds and completely ignore internationally acclaimed rules of engagement and civility in this matter. The sporadic gunshots outside the church building sent worshippers scampering in different directions, signaling an abrupt and chaotic end of the service.

    While the church is in support of and have always been praying for the success of our security personnel in the daunting task and challenge of securing lives and property in our dear state and every effort at bringing the perpetrators/sponsors of this crime against humanity to book no matter how highly placed, we warn that such acts as the one in issue are capable of worsening the security challenges we are currently facing.

    The Church will in the next few days engage the Nigerian Police in a dialogue to truly understand the reasons behind this dastardly act and how to avoid a repeat occurrence. While this process is on, we urge all Christians to continue in prayers for God’s mercy on all of us and peace in our land.

    Most Rev Dr David O. C Onuoha

    Archbishop, Anglican Province of Owerri.

    (Feast of St John the Apostle, 27th December 2021).

  • Imo State condemns arrest of Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu in place of worship

    Imo State condemns arrest of Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu in place of worship

    …says security operatives could have avoided desecration of a church

    The Imo State Government has condemned the arrest of Senator Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law in a church last Sunday during service.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the state’s condemnation via a release signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba.

    It was expressly stated in the release that: “For the avoidance of doubt, while the government believes that no stone should be spared in the effort to rid the State of criminality and banditry, it will not support any form of disrespect for a place of worship by security agencies.

    “In this regard the arrest of Mr Nwosu within the church premises could have been avoided and therefore stands condemned.

    Read full release below;

    *Government will never support disrespect for a place of worship*

    The Imo State Government is aware of the futile efforts by some people to whip up public sentiments against it over the arrest in an Anglican Church of Mr Uche Nwosu.

    The plan is to de-emphasise the possible criminality behind his arrest by playing up the desecration of a church.

    For the avoidance of doubt, while the government believes that no stone should be spared in the effort to rid the State of criminality and banditry, it will not support any form of disrespect for a place of worship by security agencies

    In this regard the arrest of Mr Nwosu within the church premises could have been avoided and therefore stands condemned.

    While government regrets the manner the arrest was made we wish to emphasize that since it was purely a security matter, the full reason why such an action was taken will eventually unfold and perhaps guide the public better.

    Government therefore wishes to appeal to those negatively affected by the action to bear with the security agencies.

    His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma holds the Anglican Communion in very high esteem and will never support any act that will disrespect her reverential status as a place of Divine worship.

    Government will continue to protect the interest of citizens of the state while not impeding the work of security agencies.

    Signed:

    Hon. Declan Emelumba
    Commissioner for Information and Strategy.

  • How security operatives invaded, shot sporadically in church to arrest me – Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu

    How security operatives invaded, shot sporadically in church to arrest me – Okorocha’s son-in-law, Nwosu

    The 2019 governorship candidate of Action Alliance (AA) in Imo state, Uche Nwosu, has opened up on how he was ‘abducted’ on Sunday in a Gestapo style by security operatives.

    He said the operatives who acted on the orders of one Shafa, whom he described as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Imo State Government House”, threatened to “blow off my head if I did not follow them.”

    Nwosu, who is the son-in-law of the former Governor Rochas Okorocha, added that he was first driven to the Government House in Owerri before being taken to Enugu where he was put in a private jet for a flight to Abuja.

    The politician had earlier yesterday confirmed through his Spokesman, Chikezie Nwadike, that he was freed the same day. He also claimed he was not invited by any security agency, prior to his ordeal.

    Nwosu was arrested during an outing service in honour of his late mother, Jemamah Nwosu, at St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Eziama-Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State.

    The incident led to a verbal altercation between the senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, and the Imo State Government.

    The government, which had distanced itself from the arrest, yesterday condemned the fact that it was carried out on church premises. Also yesterday, the state Police Command claimed that “officially,” it was not aware that Nwosu had regained his freedom.

    Briefing reporters in Abuja, Nwosu, who is also an All Progressives Congress(APC) chieftain, said the invasion of the church by the operatives and his arrest were uncalled for as there was no prior invitation by the Police or any other security agency.

    He said: “While the service was going on, some heavily armed security men invaded the church from different doors. While some went straight to the alter, others were walking from one line of the pew to the other.

    ”When they spotted me, they opened fire and started shooting inside the church, some of them walked up to me and said I should get up and follow them or they will blow off my head. I demanded to know who they were and where they were taking me, but they started dragging me. All the while, they were still shooting and everyone in the church was scampering for safety.

    ”It was like a war; they kept shooting inside the church and everybody was running in different directions. It was just an act of God that stray bullets didn’t hit any of the clergymen because they were firing straight at the alter.

    ”After they dragged me from the church into their car, they drove off, When we got to Owerri, three of the cars drove into the Government House and they drove me in one of the cars to Enugu”.

    ”On the way, they stopped after one of them answered a phone call and said Shafa, who is the CSO asked them to get my pictures. They tore my clothes and took my pictures with handcuffs and sent them to the CSO.

    ”After that, they drove me straight to Enugu Airport, where a chartered private jet was waiting and they flew me straight to Abuja. It was at Abuja that it was discovered that the Police hierarchy was not aware of the operation. It was purely planned and hatched at the Imo Government House.

    ”I was not invited by the Police or any other security Agency before my abduction from the church”.

  • Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu lawfully arrested not abducted – APC

    Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu lawfully arrested not abducted – APC

    Imo chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that Mr Uche Nwosu, a former governorship candidate in the state, was lawfully arrested rather than abducted.

    This is contained in a release signed by the APC publicity secretary, Mr Cajetan Duke, and made available to newsmen in Owerri on Monday.

    Duke described the law as not being a respecter of any individual, noting that refusal to honour genuine and lawful police invitation could warrant forceful arrest to bring an individual to book.

    He added that the APC in Imo, led by Mr MacDonald Ebere, would not condone “acrimonious rantings” that point to Gov. Hope Uzodimma’s inability to manage the security situation in Imo.

    He advised Nigerians, especially social media handlers, to desist from peddling rumours and unfounded allegations aimed at defaming the governor and the state government.

    “The APC staunchly supports the governor and government of Imo in their effort to restore sanity, peace, order and sustainable economic development in the state.

    “As a party, we advise Nigerians to refrain from trite shenanigans and doomed efforts to link Gov. Uzodimma with self-imposed and merited predicament.

    “We commend the governor for his equanimity, mature and honourable disposition in the face of rash provocations and rascality from persons intentionally working against the overall interest and wellbeing of Imo people,” he said.

  • ‘He is an ordinary citizen, not above the law’, Imo Govt defends Police arrest of Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu

    ‘He is an ordinary citizen, not above the law’, Imo Govt defends Police arrest of Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu

    The Imo State government has reacted to the arrest of Mr Uche Nwosu, saying the police have the right to arrest him if suspected of any crime.

    Addressing reporters on Sunday in Owerri hours after the incident, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Imo, Declan Emelumba, stated that it was not in anybody’s place to tell the police how to arrest a suspect.

    He also faulted the reaction of the immediate past governor of Imo, Rochas Okorocha, to the arrest of Nwosu, the latter’s son-in-law.

    “What is the haste in this press conference trying to politicise an ordinary thing,” the commissioner said of the briefing convened earlier by the former governor.

    “Uche Nwosu is just an indigene of Imo State and a citizen of Nigeria, and if he has run afoul of the law, the police have every right to arrest him, and nobody should dictate to them how they do it.

    “It depends on the gravity of the offence, and it depends on the information at their (police) disposal.”

    Earlier, there was panic at Eziama-Obaire in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo as security operatives stormed St. Peter’s Anglican Church and left with Nwosu.

    The heavily armed operatives stormed the church with high-powered security vehicles, shooting sporadically into the air before arresting Okorocha’s son-in-law.

    Emelumba described the claim by Okorocha, in which he accused the state government of instigating Nwosu’s arrest, as untrue and disgusting.

    According to him, the former governor is just trying to whip up sentiments and speaking from a state of panic and guilt.

    The commissioner asked the former governor to desist from such an act and allow the security operatives who already confirmed the arrest of Nwosu to do their duty.

    He stressed that the state government has no hands in the arrest of Okorocha’s son-in-law.

    “What is painful is that a former governor of this state, Rochas Okorocha, is busy raining abuses on His Excellency, Governor of Imo State [Hope Uzodinma], and saying all manner of things about him.

    “I don’t want to join issues with him,” said Emelumba.

    Amid reports that Nwosu might have been abducted by gunmen whose identity was unknown, police authorities in the state said he was in their custody.

    “This is to inform the general public that Chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo State Police Command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in police custody,” said Michael Abattam who is the Police Public Relations Officer in Imo.

    “This is to refute the earlier news that has been making rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by unknown persons/gunmen.”

  • Confusion trails abduction of Okorocha’s son-in-law as Police declare he was arrested

    Confusion trails abduction of Okorocha’s son-in-law as Police declare he was arrested

    Confusion seems to be shrouding the alleged abduction of Senator Rochas Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu as Imo Police Command on Sunday claimed he is in their custody.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the police in a swift reaction to stories alluding to the arrest of Nwosu, via a release said he was not abducted but arrested by the police.

    Read full statement below:

    ARREST OF CHIEF UCHE NWOSU

    This is to inform the general public that chief Uche Nwosu was not kidnapped but was arrested by the police and Imo state police command is aware of the arrest and presently he is in police custody.

    This is to refute the earlier news that has being making rounds on social media that he was kidnapped by unknown persons / gunmen.

    The Commissioner of Police while using this medium to assure imolites of the command’s commitment in ensuring the safety of Life and prosperity this yuletide seasons , adviced the general public to always shun fake news .

    CSP MICHAEL ABATTAM POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
    FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE IMO STATE COMMAND.