Owerri, the Imo State capital, was on Friday enveloped by confusion and near breakdown of law and order following the invasion of Capt. Emma Iheanacho’s property for the fourth time by the agents and contractors fronting for Imo State government despite a subsisting court order and warrant of arrest.

The demolition of the property located along Orlu Road has become a subject of litigation with a warrant of arrest issued by an Owerri Federal High Court already dangling on two government officials.

Trouble started when bulldozers and other heavy equipment as well as tippers laden with red earth were deployed to the property belonging to the former Minister of Interior for the continuation of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s urban renewal project that has led to massive demolition of properties belonging to several individuals in Owerri capital city.

As the red earth was emptied on the demolished portion of the property, those on ground guarding the place queried the workers on why they returned to the property violating the court order again and the recently issued warrant of arrest.

One of the drivers of tippers who was almost manhandled by the angry mob, pleaded for clemency saying that he was acting on the orders from above. This forced other drivers of heavy equipment and tippers to leave the area for fear of the unknown.

Recall that an Owerri Federal High Court had ordered the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, to arrest the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Works, Dr. Chibuzor Iwuagwu, and the Director of Civil Works in the Ministry, Engr. C.E. Egboka, and bring them to the court on January 30, 2016 for refusing to appear before the court and show cause why they should not be committed to prison.

The warrant of arrest issued by the court came after the court had issued summons on five officials of the state government to appear before it last month following their disobedience to the order of the court, which restrained them from demolishing the property of Captain Iheanacho along Orlu Road, Owerri.

Other government officials involved in the matter are the state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mrs. Josephine Udoji; her counterpart in the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Chief Lawrence Eburuo; and the Director of Works, Imo Government House, Arc. Emeka Duru escaped the arrest warrant because they evaded court service and as a result, deemed not duly served.

•Governor Okorocha.

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