BREAKING: Imo ex-deputy gov, Irona, regains freedom after nine days

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.”

By Jeffrey Agbo

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the immediate past Deputy Governor of Imo State, Gerald Irona, bail.

Irona’s spokesperson, Walter Duru, revealed this in a brief message on Friday.

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 Imo police on a three-count charge bordering on treason.

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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 conspire 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, did convert to your own use two land cruiser jeep (V8 and V6) and one Toyota Hilux vehicle valued at 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.”