Owerri Magistrate Court Fire Due To Electrical Fault, Not Gunmen — Police, NBA Owerri Branch

Barely 24 hours after gunmen attacked the Orlu high court, fire has razed the Owerri magistrate court.

The magistrate court which is located on the same road housing the deputy governor’s office and less than five minutes’ walk to the Imo Police command headquarters.

A source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

According to him, sensitive court materials and documents, including files were burnt.

Also, the Police has dismissed the report as blatantly false and unprofessional, adding that the fire outbreak at the Magistrate Court was largely, as a result of some electrical fault.

A statement by the spokesman of the Imo Police Command, CSP Michael Abattam read in part: “It is surprising and disheartening to read in the news and on the social media that, ‘Unknown gunmen strike again, set Imo Magistrate Court ablaze’. This story is unfounded and a misrepresentation of the true picture of what happened, on Sunday, 18/12/2022 at about 1420 hours.”

The Command frowned at the report, describing it as ‘unverified’ and capable of creating fear and panic in the minds of the good people of the State and Nigerians at large.

Meanwhile, a notice by the Owerri branch publicity secretary, Daniel Odiba to lawyers said the fire was caused by an electrical fault.

He said “Dear Learned Silks, seniors and colleagues, the sudden fire incident earlier reported on the platforms was actually caused by a minor electrical hitch at the Bailiffs’ section of the Magistrate Court. It is therefore not connected with any form of attack on the Court.

“Firefighters arrived at the court premises almost immediately and brought the situation under control.”

As at press time, smoke was still emitting from some quarters of the court.