Okorocha: ‘Video shows threat to life’

An aide to a former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has claimed that what transpired between his principal and the officials of the state government in Owerri on Sunday was not correctly reported by the media.

Okorocha’s Special adviser on protocols, Eneye Success, said a video clip from the event showed the former governor querying the essence of the attack on him and his aides.

• Anklets: The most controversial fashion piece in Nigeria
• We saw hell in captivity — Freed Niger passengers

Success said Okorocha was only on a normal routine check of his wife’s property when he was attacked.

He said: “In the video, Okorocha asked the security personnel around the premises if there was a court order for the invasion.

“He was also in fear because the invaders were masked thugs.

“According to the video, an explanation from one of the security men points to the fact that the invaders were ordered from the government house in Owerri.

“Soon after his comments, gunshots were heard from the background believed to be tear-gas fired by both the thugs and in-house security. That led to everyone scampering for safety.”

He said shortly after the attack by the alleged thugs, some of Okorocha’s entourage were seen in a pool of blood from machete cuts, including Okorocha’s in-law.

The property in question has been under investigation by the new administration in Imo State.

Daily Trust had reported how the state government seized the Royal Palm Estate, situated along Akachi Road in Owerri, the state capital.

The state government had claimed that Okorocha stormed the facility in annoyance on Sunday, demanding to be allowed in but the security personnel on the ground refused to open the gate.

Reports say, two aides of Governor Hope Uzodinma, identified as Chinasa Nwaneri and Eric Uwakwe, arrived at the place with policemen who arrested the senator after overpowering his men on the ground.