Imo state government, Monday January 30, 2023, sealed the Boss FM radio station, All Seasons Hotel, Havana Cinema, NV Nite Club and Mimi’s Place which houses a restaurant and bar, despite a court order stopping the action.
The radio station and business ventures belong to a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Evangelist Myke Ikoku.
Ikoku, who spoke to Journalists after the incident, accused the state government of political vendatta.
He disclosed that there was a court order stopping agents of the state government from invading his business premises which they violated.
He added that the government officials tore a copy of the court judgement which he showed them as they arrived.
The politician accused the government officials of assaulting him and abducting several of his staff when they came.
The PDP chieftain alleged that the government gave his business huge taxation, insisting they pay even for the period of Covid-19 when businesses were shut down. But they went to court and obtained a court order.
“When they came, I showed them the court order but they tore it and destroyed my business. They shot and arrested several of my staff. This is nothing but political vendatta by the Imo State Government,” he said.
An eyewitness who spoke to Blueprint correspondent said several armed men came in company of Imo Internal Revenue Service (IIRS) staff and gained entry into the premises, opened fire as they shot sporadically, scaring away customers and passers-by and finally whisked away some staff.
At the beginning of the present government in the state, Ikoku worked with Governor Hope Uzodimma, founded and headed one of his support groups known as Hopism.
Blueprint reports that Ikoku fell out with the governor when it was obvious that the relationship was not going to lead them anywhere.
Ikoku is now the right hand man of the National Secretary of the PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
As at the time of filing this report, all efforts to get the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Oguwuike Nwachukwu’s comment on the incident proved abortive as no response came from him.
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