Orlando Ikeoku, the spokesman for the Imo State Police Command, said on Wednesday that 18 persons had been arrested in connection with the alleged assault on an Imo State Government official, Jasper Ndubuaku, while on official duty in Owerri.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Ndubuaku, who is the Chairman, Committee on Recovery of Government Properties, was reportedly assaulted when he led the team to the Owerri residence of former Governor Rochas Okorocha on a recovery mission.
Briefing newsmen in Owerri on the development, Ikeoku, who spoke on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Rabiu Ladodo, said the suspects were in police custody.
He said that the command had formally written Ndubuaku thrice, inviting him to identify the suspects.
Ikeoku, however, expressed concern that Ndubuaku had yet to respond to the police repeated invitation.
He said: “On August 29, the command received information that Ndubuaku was assaulted at Okorocha’s residence.
“The CP ordered for a critical investigation into the matter and we invited Ndubuaku to obtain his statement, he refused.
“We have since then invited him twice again to come and identify the suspects who assaulted him but he declined.”
Ikeoku said that in spite of his failure to respond to the invitation, the command went ahead to arrest the suspects.
“We are still waiting for him but if he does not come, we will go ahead to prosecute the suspects,” he said.
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