Statue-loving ex-Nigerian governor detained for violent break-in

A former Nigerian governor was on Sunday, February 21, 2021; arrested by the Imo state police command.

Police confirmed that they moved Rochas Okorocha, who is also a sitting Senator to its custody to explain why he led violent breaking into of the government sealed Royal palm spring estate in the state capital Owerri.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Orlando Ikeokwu, confirmed this to newsmen in Owerri. The sealed facility is said to belong to Okorocha's wife.

He said that the police acted upon receipt of a distress call that the Royal Palm spring Estate sealed by the government had been violently opened by men led by Okorocha.

Orlando briefly said: “The command received a distress call regarding what we termed to be an unrest at Royal Spring palm estate, and the operatives moved to the place we discovered Okorocha led some persons to the place hitherto sealed by the Imo government.

“The command calmed the situation and invited Okorocha, to come and explain why he led the violent breaking into the estate that led to damages.”

Local news outlet, Vanguard's investigation also revealed that those arrested alongside Okorocha, included some of his former political appointees, Steve Asunobi, Lasbery Anyanwu and Ijeoma Igboanusi.

The ex-governor during his tenure which ended in March 2019 was no stranger to controversy. He justified and built a number of statues with over $1m of tax payers money.

He constructed Imo’s infamous statue avenue which has honoured among others, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and South Africa’s Jacob Zuma. President Buhari also has one of the larger-than-life statues in Imo State.

In 2017, then governor Okorocha appointed a Commissioner for Happiness and Couples’ Fulfillment. He handed the portfolio to his sister Ogechi Ololo.

The country's anti-corruption body, EFCC; also announced seizure of properties belonging to members of his family and cronies in 2019, barley six months after he stepped down.