A Magistrates’ Court in Owerri, Imo State has remanded the immediate past deputy governor of the state Gerald Irona in prison custody.
Magistrate C. N Ezerioha gave the ruling on Thursday after listening to the prosecution and defence counsels.
She further said that the court does not have the jurisdiction to hear the matter.
While the charges against him are not clear, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has 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 Governor Hope 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.