Hope Uzodinma arrested in Abuja for failing to execute $12m Calabar port contract

ALL Progressives Congress (APC) Imo State gubernatorial candidate Senator Hope Uzodinma has been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja over the failure of his company to execute a $12m contract for the dredging of Calabar channel.

 

Over the last few weeks, Governor Okorocha of Imo State has been involved in a bitter spat with several members of his party over his plans to anoint his son-in-law Uche Nwosu as his successor. In a development that has divided the party in the state, some members of the party are backing Senator Uzodinma as the APC gubernatorial candidate and they recently got their wish as the national secretariat forwarded his name to the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec).

 

However, Governor Okorocha and Mr Nwosu are challenging this decision, saying that they won a free and fair primary. Chidi Ibe, Mr Nwosu's campaign director, added that for submitting Senator Uzodinma's name to Inec, Mr Oshiomhole has arrogated to himself the right to determine the future of Imo State.

 

In a further twist to the story, the Special Presidential Investigation Panel For Recovery of Public Property said that it had  arrested Senator Uzodinma in Abuja for failing to deliver on a contract.  Panel chairman Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, said that the contract was awarded to Senator Uzodinma's company by the Nigerian Ports Authority.

 

He added that Senator Uzodinma had been evading arrest for about a year but was arrested at about 8.20pm yesterday evening at the airport. It is not clear if he will be charged immediately or if charges will be delayed until after next February's elections.

 

The statement read, “This evening, at about 8.20pm, operatives of the Special Presidential Investigation Panel For Recovery of Public Property at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport arrested the APC governorship candidate in Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, after disembarking from an Air Peace P47324 flight from Lagos.

 

“The panel is investigating economic sabotage against Senator Uzodinma arising out of the failure of his company to execute a contract of $12m for the dredging of Calabar channel awarded by the NPA.”

 

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