NewsN2.9bn Fraud: I’m Not Guilty - Okorocha Tells Court

N2.9bn Fraud: I’m Not Guilty – Okorocha Tells Court

Ask ZiVA 728x90 Ads

May 30, (THEWILL) – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a presidential aspirant and former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly, was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Monday in Abuja.

The former governor is being tried on a 17-count charge to the tune of N2.9 billion filed against him by the anti-graft agency.

But when the charge was read to him before the court on Monday, the former governor, said: “I understand the charge against me, but I am not guilty my lord.”

Okorocha, who mounted the dock around 9:35am, took his plea alongside Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, and five companies- Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

All the other defendants also pleaded their innocence to the charge dated January 24.

Okorocha, who governed Imo state from 2011 to 2019, was accused of diverting funds belonging to Imo state, to the tune of about N2.9billion. The charge against him bordered on conspiracy and stealing.

EFCC alleged that the defendants sequentially siphoned funds from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account, and diverted same into accounts of private firms.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants committed the alleged offence between October 2014 and February 2016.

Okorocha, who is currently the senator representing Imo West, had initially declared his intention to contest for presidency in the 2023 general elections.

He was, however, arrested by operatives of the agency, few hours before his political party, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), screened its presidential candidates.

The arrest followed alleged refusal by the former governor to make himself available for trial.

EFCC accused him of deliberately evading service of the charge on him.

Meanwhile, following plea of the defendants on Monday, Okorocha’s lawyer, Okey Amaechi, SAN, prayed the court to release him on bail pending the determination of the case against him.

Amaechi, further drew attention of the court to the fact that his client was roughly arrested before APC’s screening.

“My lord, without a warrant of arrest from this court, they went into the house of the defendant, broke into it and arrested him in a gestapo manner”, he added.

However, EFCC, through its lawyer, Gbolahan Latona, told the court that Okorocha raised some issues in his bail application that would require its response.

While adjourning the matter till Tuesday to hear bail applications of the defendants, Justice Ekwo ordered that they should remain in EFCC custody, pending the determination of their bail request.

The court equally fixed November 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 for trial.

About the Author

Homepage | Recent Posts

1 COMMENT

More like this
Related

Six Labour Party Enugu Assembly Members Defect To PDP

March 28, (THEWILL)- About six members of the Labour...

Reps Query NCAT Over Sale Of Helicopters, Summons Ministers, Rectors

March 28, (THEWILL)- The House of Representatives, on Thursday,...

Gunmen Attack Police Station In Anambra

March 28, (THEWILL)- Gunmen, numbering over 30, on Thursday,...