A Magistrates’ court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State capital has remanded a former Deputy Governor of Imo State, Gerald Irona at the Owerri Correctional Centre.
Irona was arraigned by the Imo State Police Command on three counts bordering on treason, illegal possession of state government property and for making utterances capable of causing unrest and chaos in Imo state.
The Presiding Magistrate, Chike N Ezerioha, after hearing the prosecution and defence counsel, ordered that Irona be remanded in Owerri correctional centre pending when the issue of bail is heard and determined by the state high court in Owerri.
Counsel to the ex-Deputy Governor S. I Imo moved a motion that Irona be granted bail on self-recognition.
But the lead prosecutor, Sunday Ogbuji, opposed the bail application, saying the magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to hear the matter since one of the charges against Irona bordered on felony.
In her ruling, the Magistrate agreed with the prosecution counsel that she lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter or grant the accused bail, noting it is only the high court that can entertain such matter and rule on bail application.