Police arraigns Labour Party senatorial candidate in Ebonyi, Okorie, for alleged murder

Linus Okorie, a senatorial candidate for the Labour Party in Ebonyi State, was charged by police on Tuesday with conspiracy and murder in the state’s Magistrate Court in Abakaliki.

Activists of the South-East security group Ebubeagu detained Okorie on Sunday. Okorie served the Onicha, Ohaozara, and Ivo Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015.

Later, he was given to the police.

The former politician was charged with plotting to commit a criminal, murder, and encouraging intercommunal conflict in the state.

According to the police, the offence violated section 516A of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 33 volume 1 Law of Ebonyi 2009, and was penalised in accordance with section 319 of the same law.

The defence counsel, Mr. Chikodili Nome, in his submission alleged that the charges against his client were designed to keep him behind bars and weaken his resolve ahead of the 2023 elections.

Nome also alleged that the state government was resorting to self-help.

Okorie will vie for the Ebonyi South Senatorial seat along with Governor David Umahi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in next year’s elections.

The counsel said: “We have seen details of the charges. What happened here today is an abuse of judicial proceedings.

“Anyone who is not comfortable with the judgment should go to court of Appeal and not resort to self-help.”

The Magistrate, Linda Ogodo, ordered that the defendant be remanded at a correctional centre in Abakaliki over lack of jurisdiction.

She adjourned the matter till November 4.