Former Imo state deputy governor, Gerald Irona, has been remanded in prison by the magistrate court sitting in Owerri on Thursday.
The presiding magistrate, C. N Ezerioha, after hearing the prosecution and defence counsel over alleged violent comment by Irona, ordered that he should be remanded in Owerri correctional centre.
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.
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 later was removed from office.
Imo Government charges against Ex-Deputy Governor
1. Hon Gerald Irona sometime in January 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri magistrate district, conspired with others now at large, to commit felony to wit: treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(2) of the criminal code, cap c 38, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo state.
2. Hon Gerald Irona sometime in January 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri magistrate district, did make several utterances to the effect that he will make Imo state ungovernable and immediately afterwards hoodlums levied several attacks on Imo state with intent to intimidate or overawe the governor of the state and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37 of the criminal code, cap, c 38, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo state.
3 Hon Gerald Irona on the 15th day of January, 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri magistrate district, converted to his own use two land cruiser jeeps ( V8 and v6) and one Toyota Hilux vehicle valued four hundred and Ninety three million naira, property of Imo state government, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 390 ( 9) of the criminal code, cap c 38, laws of the federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo state.
