Imo Ex-deputy Gov, Irona Freed After 9 Days

The immediate past Deputy Governor of Imo State, Gerald Irona, has left Owerri correctional centre after nine days in custody, our correspondent has learnt.

Irona’s spokesperson, Walter Duru, in a short message on Friday said an Abuja Federal High Court ordered that the former number two citizen of the state be released on bail.

He disclosed that the authorities at the Owerri correctional centre had since complied with the court order.

Duru wrote, “Former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Gerald Irona, is free. His release was ordered by a Federal High Court in the FCT, Abuja and the Nigerian Correctional Service has long complied.”

“I will issue a statement later today. Good morning and many thanks for your support. Imo must be rebuilt.”

Irona was on Thursday last week remanded in Owerri correctional centre after he was arraigned by the police on a three-count charge bordering on treason.

The charges preferred against him by the police read: “That you Hon Gerald Irona sometime in January 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri Magistrate District, did 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, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo State.

“That you Hon Gerald Irona sometime in January 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri Magistrate District, did make several utterances to the effect that you will make Imo State ungovernable and immediately afterwards hoodlums levied several attacks on Imo State with intent to intimidate or overawe the governor of Imo State and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 37 of the Criminal Code, cap, c 38, Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as applicable in Imo State.

“That you Hon Gerald Irona on the 15th day of January, 2020, at Owerri in the Owerri Magistrate District, do converted to your own use two land cruiser jeep (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.”