a Magistrate Court on Thursday, sent the former Imo State Deputy Governor, Gerald Irona to prison.
Magistrate C. N Ezerioha gave the ruling after listening to the prosecution and defense counsels.
The former deputy governor had been arrested from his Owerri residence on Wednesday by men of the Imo state police command before he was arraigned in court.
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According to police, his arrest was due to a statement he made during the Supreme Court battle between governor Hope Uzodimma and former governor Emeka Ihedioha if the latter was removed from office.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accused the Uzodimma administration of being responsible for Irona’s arrest on Wednesday.
But the Imo State Government said it has no hand in it and that Uzodimma does not interfere with the affairs of the police.
The governor’s special adviser on public communications Collins Ughalaa added that the allegation was “baseless and unfounded”.
Ughalaa said:
“It is unfortunate that the ex-deputy governor’s spokesperson could make such an unfounded claim. The governor does not interfere with the affairs of the police. He respects the rule of law. The governor nor the Imo State government have no hands in the arrest of the ex-deputy governor.”
Irona was the deputy governor of the state between May 29 2019 and January 14, 2020, while Emeka Ihedioha was governor.
Sheriff Oborevwori Wins Certificate Forgery Suit
Meanwhile, the Federal High Asaba has dismissed a certificate forgery suit against Sheriff Oborevwori, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State.
In a sitting on Thursday, the court declared the suit filed by Chief Ikie Aghwarianovwe as statute-barred, inconsequential, and a waste of precious time.
In its ruling, the court said the suit numbered FHC/ASB/CS/3/2023, violated constitutional provisions, adding that the requiring action should have been filed within 14 days from the date INEC published particulars of candidates in 2018.
