Security operatives whisk away ex-IPMAN deputy president

Security operatives in Abia State yes­terday invaded Michael Okpara Auditorium, venue of the third edition of Media Summit of Nigerian Union of Journalists, South- East Zone in Umuahia and whisked away a man, whose presence, they al­leged could cause breach of peace in the state.

The man, who was later identified as Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, a former deputy national chairman of Indepen­dent Petroleum Marketers As­sociation of Nigeria (IPMAN) was among those selected for recognition by the union.
Following his arrest, the union suspended the pro­posed honours award on Elder Okoronkwo to avert break­down of law and order that had become imminent at the venue.
Checks revealed that Okoronkwo’s arrest was due to series of petitions written by the National Executive Committee of IPMAN and other Nigerians, who felt that his recognition by NUJ would amount to legitimising his claim as the national president of the association, when there was a court judgement against him to that effect.
The Chief of Staff to IP­MAN president, Chief Chin­edu Ukadike, praised the organisers of the summit for suspending the proposed award on Okoronkwo.