The police in Imo State on Sunday arrested a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, after a fracas over the sealing of a hotel belonging to Mr Okorocha’s wife by the state government.

Mr Okorocha is accused of trying to forcefully unseal his wife’s hotel which was sealed by the Imo State Government.

A photo being circulated on WhatsApp showed the former governor sitting along a corridor of a building that looks like a police station.

Mr Okorocha’s aide, Ebere Nzewuji, confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday evening that the former governor has been arrested and is detained at the police headquarters in Owerri.

“He has been arrested by the police on the orders of the governor,” Mr Nzewuji said.

“The police are telling him that he is under arrest. It is so clear now that he is being arrested. And he is being detained.”

Mr Okorocha, a serving senator, is accused of forcefully unsealing his wife’s hotel, Royal Spring Palm Hotel, Owerri, which was sealed two days ago by the commissioner for lands and physical planning on behalf of the Imo State Government.

The commissioner said the hotel was built, without permission, on government land.

But Mr Okorocha’s aide, Mr Nzewuji, denied that the senator tried to unseal the property.

“When he arrived at the premises, they were confronted with thugs who had guns and machetes, and they were attacking him and his entourage.