Ebonyi State Security Council has declared the former Federal Lawmaker representing Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency in the National Assembly between 2011-2019 Hon Linus Okorie wanted, over alleged inciting publication on Facebook Media platform.
In a similar development , the Security Council has directed the Attorney General /Commissioner for Justice Chief Cletus Ofife and the Commissioner of Police Garba Aliyu, to liase with the State Controller of Correctional Service , to compile list of Inmates on Awaiting Trial geared towards enhancing jail delivery.
The State Commissioner for Information/Orientation Barrister Uchenna Orji, made the disclosure in abakaliki on Tuesday during a joint media briefing with the Commissioner for Justice Chief Cletus Ofoke, on the outcome of the State Security Council meeting.
“The State Security Council resolved to declare One Hon Linus Okorie wanted for the publications and incisive statements some of which were posted in Facebook that were traced to be part of inflammatory publications that really involved tension that led to the beheading of Ebubeagu Official”
The Commissioner said that the Security Council noted the revealation report that indicated that a lot of people had accessories to that very gruesome murder of that young man.
“Security Council resolved that Security Agencies must intensify investigation to come to final conclusion on all the issues with a view to bringing all the perpetrators to book”
In his contribution, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Chief Cletus Ofoke. said that the compilation of Awaiting Trial inmates were geared towards enhancing Decongestion of Correctional Service.
On the crisis that erupted between members of Ebubeagu Security Outfit and youths of Akaeze community that culminated in the burning of houses and property , the Security Council resolved that the 11 suspects arrested so far must be prosecuted and brought to book.
“The CP and Attorney General must ensure that all those arrested must face the Law, the Council received brief on the carnage in Akaeze and directed regular briefings on the activities so far”
“The Security Council directed that personal of Ebubeagu Outfit must operate in line with Rules of Engagement.”
“The Security Council directed the Commissioner for Justice and Police Commissioner to liase with the State Controller of Correctional Service to compile list of inmates on Awaiting Trial ”
In a reaction, the former Lawmaker Hon Linus Okorie , alleged that his life was in danger from the government and Ebubeagu operative.
“I wish to alert the world that this is another of the artful schemes of the State government to silence all opposition voices in Ebonyi state by criminalizing it’s high profile leaders”
“Using Ebubeagu to kill me on the excuse that I was evading arrest and also a veiled excuse to close down CitiHub event centre which has long been the desire of the state government”
“Its also a ploy to distract attention from the Carnage that Ebubeagu has been wrecking on the the people of Ebonyi state as symbolized by the riots and killings in Akaeze in the past few days”
Hon Linus Okorie stated that his being declared wanted, the state government was simply looking for a high profile scapegoat to take attention away from the many lives being lost to Ebubeagu operatives across the state and he has chosen me using his State Security Council.
”It is the duty of the Nigerian Police to investigate crimes and invite all named suspects for interrogation and even when a suspect fails to honor an invitation, there is a clear procedure that must be followed before such a person can be declared wanted by the police and not any security council meeting”
Let it be known that I have never been invited to answer to any allegations by the Nigerian Police or other security agencies any where in Nigeria.
“Without so inviting by the police, I cannot lawfully be declared wanted by any authority for such an alleged crime by the police or any other authority under the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.
