The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has explained why its operatives invaded Senator Rochas Okorocha’s Abuja home on Tuesday. The Commission revealed that the EFCC had on January 24, 2022, filed a 17-count criminal charge against Okorocha for diversion of public funds and properties totaling N2.9 billion and invited the Senator as part of their investigations.
However, Senator Rochas Okorocha, a former governor of Imo State did not honour several invitations, which led the anti-graft agency to besiege his home. The Head of Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren said Okorocha was on the Commission’s administrative bail.
Senator Okorocha’s arraignment was reportedly stalled twice due to his absence after allegedly evading service of process.
Below is the text of the Commission’s announcement:
“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrived at the Maitama, Abuja home of a former Governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, today May 24, 2022, to effect his arrest,” the statement reads.
“The move followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
Okorocha allegedly violated an administrative bail order issued by the Commission.
Senator Okorocha’s arraignment was reportedly stalled twice due to his absence after allegedly evading service of process.
“The case was assigned to Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, but attempts to arraign Senator Okorocha were twice stalled due to the ex-refusal governor’s to be served with processes.”
Okorocha allegedly violated an administrative bail order issued by the Commission.
Senator Okorocha’s arraignment was reportedly stalled twice due to his absence after allegedly evading service of process.
“At the last adjourned date, March 28th, 2022, Justice Ekwo warned that it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter” before adjourning until May 30th, 2022.
“Given the circumstances, the commission has no choice but to arrest Senator Okorocha and bring him to justice.”
TheNiche previously reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed Okorocha’s Maitama, Abuja residence on Tuesday.
According to an aide of the Imo West Senator, the operatives, who allegedly came without arrest warrant, insisted on forcefully taking him away.
However, astute political observers have described the invasion as a ruse to keep him from attending the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate screening scheduled for today.
Okorocha, a presidential candidate running on the APC platform, was holed up in the house.
Meanwhile, the ruling party is putting its presidential candidates through their paces today. Twenty-four of the twenty-eight candidates who purchased forms returned them. Okorocha is one of the people who filled out the nomination form and returned it.
Okorocha has been fighting the EFCC for a long time.
On January 31, just hours after his declaration to run for the presidency in the 2023 elections and after delivering a rousing speech on how he would make Nigeria work again, the EFCC charged him with conspiracy and stealing N2.9 billion in 17 counts it filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Other defendants in the suit are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
