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Tag: Okorocha

  • Court dismisses Okoracha’s N1. 25bn damages suit against IGP

    The Federal High Court sitting in Jos, on Thursday threw out a N1.25 billion damages suit filed by Gov. Rochas Okorocha, against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and the EFCC.

    Okorocha filed the suit against the IGP and EFCC in November 2018 for allegedly invading and ransacking his house in Jos.

    Delivering judgment, Justice Musa Kurya, dismissed Okoracha’s application for lacking in merit.

    “Even though there was no record of how the search warrant was obtained but a search warrant dated May 3, 2017 from a Magistrate has been attached as exhibit before this court.

    “Whether due process was followed or not at obtaining the search warrant, there is no proof otherwise to its genuineness and the breach of sections 34 – 37 of the UN human rights and African Charter.

    “Consequently, judgement is hereby entered in favour of the respondents. The applicant’s claims are hereby refused.

    “I hereby declare that the application of the applicant lacked merit and is hereby dismissed and cost is not awarded to either parties in this suit, ’’ the Judge declared.

    NAN reports that Okorocha alleged that the IGP and the anti-graft agency breached his fundamental human rights following the May 3, 2017 invasion.

    Read Also: Okorocha warns against rigging of Imo guber election

    Also joined in the suit are the Commissioner of Police Plateau, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    The Governor prayed the court to declare the action of the police and EFCC as “illegal, null and void’’ and award his client the sum of N1.25 billion as general damages because there was no valid court warrant for such an exercise.

    But the IGP and the EFCC, through their counsel, Edwin Inegbenoise and Muktar Ali-Ahmed, pleaded with the court to dismiss the governors application for lack of merit since a court warrant was obtained for the search on his residence in accordance with the law.

  • Imo West: Collation Officer denies hostage rumour

    …declares Okorocha winner

     

    There was a mild drama Monday at the Collation Centre for Imo West Senatorial District in Orlu, Orlu Council Area of Imo State, when the Collation Officer, Prof. Ibeawuchi Francis from the Federal University of Owerri (FUTO), hid the original result sheet after declaring the Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha as the Senator-elect.

    Ibeawuchi who stopped the declaration of the result halfway on Sunday night after announcing the result for nine Local Government Areas, out of which Okorocha won eight LGAs, said that he left the original result sheet at the INEC office in Owerri and instead wrote the result on a rumpled sheet of paper.

    But the party agents insisted that he produced the original result sheet, resulting in several hours of argument until security operatives intervened and pleaded with the party agents to exercise patience and confirm from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Ezeonu to ascertain the claim of the Collation Officer.

    When called on phone by one of the senior Police officers, the REC said that the result sheet was in the possession of the Collation Officer and ordered him to produce it.

    Shortly after the call, the Collation Officer, produced the Original result sheet and entered the figures before announcing the result a second time.

    Governor Okorocha polled a total number of 97762 votes to defeat his closest rival, Jones Onyereri of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 63117 votes.

    Addressing journalists shortly after announcing the results, the Collation Officer, who looked sober, debunked the news trending on the social media that his daughter was kidnapped to force him to announce the result.

    He said, “I have announced the result, APC had the highest vote so the Governor, His Excellency Rochas Okorocha of the APC has been declared winner”. I was not forced to announce the result and no member of my family was kidnapped, I am not aware of any such report”.

  • Okorocha to Ndigbo: vote Buhari or forget 2023

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has told the Igbo to vote President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday or lose the chances of clinching the Presidency in 2023.

    He insists anything short of reelecting Buhari will mean that Ndigbo will have to wait until 2031 to take a shot at the Presidency.

    He argued further that the Igbo will exercise the right of asking for the Presidency in 2023 by voting for the President.

    The governor, who spoke while addressing crowd at zonal rallies in Okigwe zand Owerri zones respectively, to mobilise votes for the President, regretted “some Igbo politicians are campaigning to deceive the Igbo again as they did in 2015”.

    He added such external forces are positioning men like Senator Hope Uzodinma against the Igbo interest.

    According to him: “Some people especially our brothers are campaigning now against President Buhari saying he is Boko Haram that he is a herdsman and so on.

    “You can remember in 2015, I was telling the Igbos to cast their vote for Buhari because he will win with or without the votes of the Igbo.

    “I was called all sorts of derogatory names. Some said I was going to Islamise the whole Igbo. Is Igboland Islamised today?

    “Igbo today are playing politics with the mindset of a trader, thinking only of the immediate benefits unlike other tribes that are playing real politics.

    “My people listen to me and listen real good, whatever I tell you to do, do it as it will profit us. I am telling you today that Buhari will win.

    “On Saturday, if Igbo supports Buhari and Buhari wins, in 2023 Ndigbo will have the right to demand for Igbo Presidency.

    “Those who love Igbo nation must vote for President Buhari because if we miss this chance we may not get the presidency even by 2023 or 2027 or 2031.

    “The time is right for the Igbo nation to play the right politics so as to have a clear chance by 2023”.

  • Okorocha warns Igbo on 2023

    IMO State Governor Rochas Okorocha has warned that his race – the Igbo – may lose out in national polity unless his kinsmen apply tact and political wisdom.

    Okorocha, who recalled the fate of the Ndigbo since after the civil war, lamented that they were about making similar mistakes that put Ndigbo in a disadvantaged position in the Nigerian project.

    The governor said: “The saying that there was no victor and no vanquished after the civil war is just a mere way to create unity for the country, otherwise the Igbo were the vanquished. Ever since, the Igbo has fared like the defeated but the most painful aspect is that Ndigbo are about to lose again.”

    Okorocha alleged that the recent political upheavals in his state were sponsored by forces outside the state, using politicians from the state to pull him down ahead 2023.

    He stated that the calculation was that if he “is allowed to continue gathering momentum he will give a good fight for the Igbo Presidency”, warning that Ndigbo will be at the losing end with him politically alienated.

    Okorocha said: “There is more to the noise you are hearing about the governorship election in Imo, it is not about Uche Nwosu, it is a plot to stop Okorocha by all means, otherwise why will Adams Oshiomhole and Rotimi Amaechi be interested in who governs Imo.

    “The calculation is that if Uche Nwosu becomes governor and I go to Senate, I will be a strong force by 2023. The most annoying fact is that they are using our people to pursue that agenda.”

    Explaining why he is contesting, the governor said: “I want to go to Senate to remain politically relevant until 2023 and also to represent Ndigbo and the Nigerian masses.”

  • You’re a disappointment to APC, Uzodinma tells Okorocha

    – As Madumere assures of better deal for Imolites

    The governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, Imo State chapter, Senator Hope Uzodinma, has described Governor Rochas Okorocha, who is supposed to be the symbol of the party, as a huge disappointment, alleging that the governor has failed in all fronts to implement the manifesto of the party.

    Uzodinma expressed his dismay over Okorocha’s performance in the state while addressing heads of Ngor Okpala during APC campaign in Ngor Okpala yesterday.

    His words: “It is regrettable that a local government like Ngor Okpala is left in the state it is despite its political resources in terms of votes. I know of an erosion site that has been here in Ngor Okpala for over a decade and yet, our great party APC has the best manifesto in terms of welfare of the people and infrastructure. Unfortunately the symbol of our party is a disappointment.”

    He explained that it is the major reason that accounted for the emergence of the coalition to retrieve both the party and the state. He therefore promised to do the much he could to build roads that will stand the test of time in the local government.

    In the area of employment, Uzodinma averred that it takes a leader who is gifted in creative thinking to be on the saddle, assuring the people of Imo State of employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the state since education curricula will be reviewed to reflect the technical areas needed to provide solution in our today’s society. He also hinted that it is not all about free education but qualitative free education that will see our children compete favourably with their contemporaries at both national and international level.

    For the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere, who introduced Uzodinma to the people of Ngor Okpala, he said that what matters at the moment is to ensure that reign of impunity is dispensed with and good governance restored. He called on people of good conscience to unite with a view to bringing impunity to an end and restoring confidence in the system.

    On Owerri zone agenda, he said while the priority is hinged on recovering the state from the present family driven government, Madumere said that Uzodinma can be trusted with Owerri zone agenda, saying that he will deliver on it if given the support.

    He used the opportunity to raise Uzodinma’s hand as the candidate of All Progressives Congress.

    The event, which attracted who is who in Owerri zone witnessed the presence of politicians and business men of notes. Chief Theodore Ekechi, former Commissioner for Information and the convener of Imerienwe Declaration that led to the formation of Restoration group. The Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Prof. Placid Njoku was present with Chief Cosmos Iwu, Director General of Hope Uzodinma Campaign Organisation. Ekechi took time to introduce the leaders of the party from Ngor Okpala among who are Sir George Schedule, former Secretary of the State Government, Chief Blyden Amajirionwu, House of Representatives candidate for Abo- Mbaise-Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, House of Assembly candidate for Ngor Okpala, Hon. Ugochukwu Okere popularly known as Blackhawks among others. Others present were George Egu, Tony Grey Okpe, Dr. Uzoma Obiyor, Gibson Achonwa Njemanze among others.

  • Okorocha to Issa-Onilu: stay away from Imo

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has told National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Lanre Issa-Onilu, to let the Imo State chapter be.

    According to the governor, Issa-Onilu and his cohorts have done enough harm by imposing an intruder and member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governorship candidate.

    Okorocha, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “It has become necessary to appeal to the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Lanre Issa-Onilu, and those behind him, to please leave the Imo State chapter of the party alone after inflicting deep cut on the party by imposing a known PDP member as the governorship candidate.

    “Twenty-four hours to the presidential rally in Owerri, Mr. Issa-Onilu had no other contribution to make than to raise false alarms, and making disturbing claims that APC has removed Governor Rochas Okorocha as the campaign coordinator. He added that APC has alerted the police and DSS of plots by Okorocha and Uche Nwosu to disrupt the rally.

    “It is unfortunate that in their effort to justify whatever they had eaten over the governorship ticket, they have decided to be callous about the whole thing. Otherwise, they would have known that the rally is Okorocha’s event.

    “In any case, Governor Okorocha has never been the party’s state campaign coordinator.  He is rather President Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign coordinator as he was among those inaugurated by the President, and Issa-Onilu and his group cannot remove who they never appointed. So, his claim was borne out of ignorance.

    Read also: Truck kills motorcyclist in Ondo

    “To say the least, Imo is calm. Governor Okorocha is duly in-charge. The presidential rally will hold, and peacefully too. They had raised that false alarm to discourage the president from attending the rally like they did during the presidential rally for youths and women.

    “The point is that truth lives while lies do not live. These Abuja-based politicians have fed them with lies and they took or bought the lies wholesale. Otherwise, how would someone think that a man who went to the Senate through the court would now know Imo Politics more than a man who has won two governorship elections, and on the platforms of parties that were not in power at the centre?”

  • Ohaneze’s adoption of Atiku baseless – Okorocha

    Imo State governor,  Rochas Okorocha, has described the endorsement of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation,  Ohaneze Ndigbo, as null and void and of no effect.

    The Imo governor in a statement insisted that “Ohaneze is a socio-cultural organisation and not a registered political party and there is no voting unit or polling booth called Ohaneze. So, its adoption of Atiku PDP is a folklore and should not give anybody concern”.

    Okorocha also pointed out that the action of the Igbo group, has no electoral value. “The adoption is neither here nor there, since it has no electoral value. This is also not the first time Ohaneze has adopted a PDP presidential candidate.

    It did that in 2015, yet, PDP failed with its Presidential candidate, while APC won with its Presidential candidate. And one would have expected Ohaneze to exercise caution this time following what happened in 2015.

    “Indeed, the organisation should have done things differently especially when it remembers that all Igbo whether in PDP, APC, APGA, ADC or SDP are presumed to be members of Ohaneze.

    He noted further that, “not minding the adoption, President Muhammadu Buhari will win in the South-East and the general election proper. So, Igbo in APC should remain focused and not to make the adoption an issue, when it is not an issue in all ramifications”.

  • Okorocha canvasses violence-free elections

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has called on Nigerians to ensure that the peace in the country is not fractured as the country goes to the polls next month.

    The elections will hold on February 16 and March 2.

    A statement yesterday said Okorocha spoke in Owerri at the “Finger off the Trigger” Campaign, a peace initiative to campaign for security, peace and stability.

    The statement by the Programme Director of “Finger off the Trigger”, Ibrahim Ochigbo, said Okorocha spoke when the team, led by its National Coordinator, Chielo Ojirika, visited him at the Government House in Owerri.

    Okorocha, who urged Nigerians to ensure a violence-free election, lauded the initiative, and called on residents and Nigerians to embrace the campaign.

    Ojirika, also known as Chiboy the Black Courage, praised Okorocha for his commitments toward a violence-free election.

    He said: “Finger off the Trigger’ is a security and crime-prevention training and sensitisation programme that tend to curb violence, especially gun violence.

    “It aims to change the mindset of our youths for the better, and encourage them to get their fingers off the trigger for a peaceful 2019 and beyond.

    ‘’It is a non-partisan campaign organised by Salute Nigeria Initiative, supported by the State House, Abuja, and in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ); Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dream Projects, INEC, among others.”

  • Okorocha campaigns for AA’s Nwosu at APC rally

    Imo State Governor Rocha Okorocha on Saturday took advantage of the southeast zonal rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to campaign for the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) Uche Nwosu.

    Senator Hope Uzodinma is the APC governorship candidate but the governor is backing his son-in-law, Nwosu, who lost out in the battle for APC ticket.

    Despite the presence of wife of the President Aisha Buhari represented by wife of the vice president, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo and Uzodinma, Okorocha told voters to pick Nwosu over the APC candidate.

    He however declared support for President Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential race.

    According to Okorocha: “Imo victory for Buhari is designed sealed for Buhari. In Imo state we have 47 political parties and one of the perfect alliances is Action Alliance led by Uche Nwosu.

    “Nwosu is APC in spirit. APC owes Imo people an apology because of the injustice meted to Imo people.

    “In Imo state, Nwosu will win Imo state. It is not anti -party. We refused imposition in Imo state.”

    He went on:  “I am in charge and no sane youth will come and create tension in this state.

    “ Let me say this madam First Lady, this time around we are not here to ask you to campaign for Buhari, what my wife has done is to tell you that Buhari is on ground.

    Mrs. Osinbajo called on APC supporters lo vote for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to her: “I am here to represent the wife of the President of the wife of Nigeria. She has asked me to greet you all.

    “She said that everybody should vote APC, and that APC will win in every state. She says nobody should be sleeping on the day of election.

    “There must be no fighting because government is interested in women and youths.

    “I am proud to be a Nigeria woman because Nigeria women are beautiful, strong and successful. We are happy with the President because he is taking us to the next level with APC.”

    Southeast zone coordinator of APC, Nkechi Okorocha, said: “You all are welcome to the Southeast APC rally for women and youths in Imo state.  In 2019 our president will resume that seat that he has started.

    “We thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his genuine leadership and love for this country.

    “For the future to be secured Buhari is the only hope. We are here to say that Buhari must return.

    “The reason is that Buhari loves the unity of this country, he loves this country, so there is no vacancy in Aso Rock.

    “It is only Buhari that can complete what they have started. So that we know that indeed Nigeria is united.”

    Diginitries who attended the event included the Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu; Imo state governorship candidate of APC Senator Hope Uzodimma; Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu (Imo North); Abia APC governorship candidate, Uche Ogar and Imo candidate of Action Alliance, Uche Nwosu.

  • Okorocha: I did not dump APC

    • ‘I won’t support candidates with stolen tickets’

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has dismissed allegations he has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Action Alliance (AA).

    The governor said those with stolen tickets were behind the blackmail. He said he was still in APC, and would continue to work for President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election and other genuine APC candidates.

    A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said: “An amusing tale has been trending on the social media for days, and those behind it said the governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has announced his defection from APC to AA, to join his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.

    “Imo people do not support stolen tickets, and that is why those who stole the governorship tickets of their parties cannot fly. They have become stranded and are looking for who to blame for their woes. They know this fact that Imo people do not support anything stolen. That was the reason they dealt with fraudsters in 1997.

    “It was out of frustration that those concerned came up with the story of Governor Okorocha leaving APC for AA, which is not true. With the ill-gotten ticket, they have also seen that the sound of bitter kola in the mouth does not reflect its real taste. They used blackmail and what they know how to do best to get the party’s ticket, and their challenge is how to convince Imo people to vote for them.

    “They told lies to those who do not know them, and got the ticket, but Imo people know them and won’t entertain lies from them. It is interesting that nobody has accused Rochas of non-performance, and nobody has challenged him on his constant claim that he has achieved more than those before him put together. The only blackmail tool they have is the son-in-law issue. And nobody has gone to court to say that a man from Nkwerre cannot be governor because his in-law from Ideato South is governor.

    “Rochas Okorocha does not play hide-and-seek; he has promised that President Muhammadu Buhari and all APC marketable candidates would win because you cannot force Imo people to vote for someone they know cannot govern them.

    “Finally, Rochas Okorocha remains “full-ground” in APC, and he is working hard for the party’s success in the elections. Those entertaining serious fear are those with strange tickets, and they do not blame anybody but themselves. The day of reckoning is here with us. Imo people will ensure one man, one vote.”