A magistrate court has ordered the remand of the Labour Party senatorial candidate for Ebonyi south, Linus Okorie at the Nigeria Correctional Centre in Abakaliki, the state capital, over alleged conspiracy and murder.
Okorie, a former member of the house of representatives, is contesting for the same legislative seat with Dave Umahi, governor of the state.
Chris Anyanwu, spokesperson of the state police command, in a statement on Monday, said apart from alleged drug-related offenses, Okorie’s activities and utterances had “incited and provoked the violence that engulfed Onicha community which led to suspected gunmen to unleash mayhem in the area in 2021.”
He was also accused of “spreading fake news against umahi.”
The police said the former lawmaker refused to honour several police invitations.
He was arrested on Sunday over allegations of drug peddling and arraigned on Tuesday.
The charge dated April 5, 2022, marked MAB/574/2022, accused Okorie of conspiring among others to commit felony to murder, promoting inter-communal war and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 516A of Criminal Code Law, Cap 33 volume 1 Law of Ebonyi 2009.