Imo Governor Uzodimma’s Former Close Aide, Nwaneri, is Arrested by Nigerian Police for Fraud
Chinasa Nwaneri, a former Special Adviser to the state governor, Hope Uzodimma, on Special Duties, has been detained by the Nigeria Police Force, Imo State command, for suspected forgery and unauthorized use of state government authority.
The police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed that Uzodimma’s former trusted political ally had been arrested on Monday in the state capital of Owerri. Nwaneri was detained on suspicion of causing malicious damage, engaging in fraudulent activities, obtaining money under false pretenses, and unlawfully using the state government’s power and authority to harass and intimidate the populace of the state.
Okoye reported that the president of ISAMATA, three other people, and the troubled former governor’s strongest man had all been taken into custody.
“Be advised that a former Governor’s Aide, Chinasa Nwaneri, President of ISAMATA, and three other individuals were arrested on charges of malicious damage, fraudulent activities, obtaining money under false pretense, and unlawful use of government power/authority to harass, intimidate, and frustrate the people of Imo State,” the police spokesperson stated.
“Investigation is ongoing; further development will be communicated in due course.”
On Saturday, Nwaneri was taken into custody at his Rockview Hotel in Owerri.
He was transported right away to the command’s State Bureau of Investigation to be questioned.
Nwaneri was reportedly arrested and imprisoned on a court order, albeit this was not confirmed by a source.
Nwaneri was removed from office at the end of his first tenure as governor after he was implicated in several land-racketeering schemes in the state.
The immediate previous commissioners for land, Nobel Atulegwu, and housing, Love Inn, were arrested and detained at the state police command in 2023 due to the controversy surrounding the matter. The governor then fired them from the state executive council.
