The case involving the Labour Party, LP, Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South zone in the 2023 general election, Hon. Linus Okorie, yesterday took a dramatic twist as his appearance at the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, did not go smoothly, due to certain lapses.
The case, which was abruptly adjourned to Friday, 18th November 2022, by Justice Riman Fatum, generated lots of ripples among Ebonyi people in the State.
Recall that Magistrate Court 1, Abakaliki, had remanded Linus Okorie, a two-term House Representative member and Labour Party Senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South in the forthcoming general election, Linus Okorie, on a five-count charge bothering on murder, felony, conspiracy, incitement, and threat to Ebonyi State Governor's life, David Umahi.
During the short proceeding, the Judge, Fatum was quoted as saying, that a gun was reportedly pointed at his face by security personnel (names withheld) on his way to Court.
Vanguard gathered that when the suspect (Okorie) was being transported back to the prison by the Nigeria Correctional Service, the vehicles accompanying him were allegedly intercepted at Presco flyover and later at Udensi roundabout by a security outfit, said to be Ebubeagu.
Sources close to Vanguard revealed that it took the timely intervention of the Department of State Services, DSS to ensure the release of the affected vehicles, conveying Okorie and men of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCS, from members of Ebubeagu who allegedly blocked the road.
It was gathered that the leadership of the Nigeria Correctional Centre and the Police are presently at loggerheads over the movement of Linus Okorie to Court and back to prison.
According to a source close to NCS, "the Police authority is not pleased with the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCS over Linus Okorie. They didn't want us to take him to Court today. We are under the law and we must obey the law."
Also, a source close to DSS alleged that "I was there at the court when the presiding judge asked if the Defendant is present, Linus stood up, so the judge demanded that he should appear physically tomorrow, Friday.
"At the court, some policemen blocked the judge from entering the court premises. The matter wanted to escalate but the policemen later fled the area because of the presence of other agencies.
"The Koko now is that CP has threatened the controller of prisons, Abakaliki, that since he disobeyed him, anything he sees from now, he should take it in good faith.
"I learnt that they have withdrawn policemen attached to guard the prisons. Also, the CP refused to deploy his men to escort Linus to court, and that was when the controller requested our assistance."
Reacting to the alleged abduction of Linus Okorie members of Ebubeagu, the Commander of the Security outfit, Mr Friday Nnana explained that such a scenario was untrue and lacked any form of authenticity.
"Ebubeagu cannot be involved in such activities. It is not Ebubeagu. We can go to Court because we were the ones that arrested the Defendant. People should stop painting the name Ebubeagu black. The outfit is doing its best to maintain peace and order in the State."
Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi Command SP Chris Anyanwu did not respond to the calls put across to his phone.
There are palpable fears over the Defendant's safety as he appears before the Federal High Court, Abakaliki, tomorrow (Friday) morning.
