The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said that its operatives laid siege to the residence of former Imo Governor Senator Rochas Okorocha because of his refusal to honour the commission’s invitations. It said Okorocha jumped administrative bail granted him by EFCC.
It also alleged that attempts to arraign Senator Okorocha were stalled twice owing to the absence of the ex-Governor who reportedly evaded service of processes.
The EFCC made the clarifications in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren.
The statement reads:
“Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), today May 24, 2022, arrived at the Maitama, Abuja home of a former Governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, to effect his arrest.
“The move followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
“EFCC had on January 24, 2022 filed a 17-count criminal charge bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9billion against Okorocha.
“The case was assigned to Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja but attempts to arraign Senator Okorocha were twice stalled owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes.
“At the last adjourned date, March 28th, 2022, Justice Ekwo before adjourning until May 30th, 2022, had warned that it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter”.
“In the circumstances, the commission is left with no option than to effect the arrest of Senator Okorocha and bring him to trial.”
EFCC forcefully entered the residence of Senator Rochas Okorocha in Abuja and picked him up after several hours of siege.
This comes after sporadic gunshots were heard in the vicinity.
EFCC had arrived at Okorocha’s residence in Maitama on Tuesday morning to arrest him but were unable to gain entrance into the house.
The operatives were seen in a video parading the premises of the former governor.
They insisted that Okorocha, who is seeking to contest the presidential election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), should submit himself for arrest or honour a long-standing invitation to their office.
The anti-graft agency, after hours of laying siege to the house, however, picked up Okorocha on Tuesday evening and whisked him away.
The EFCC had also insisted that journalists must leave the premises, forcefully ejecting everyone in the residence.
The former governor is being investigated by the anti-graft corruption for allegedly stealing state funds while in office.
In January, the anti-graft agency had charged the senator with allegations he conspired with others to steal N2.9 billion from public coffers.
EFCC filed the charges at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In addition to Okorocha, other defendants are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
The charges were filed about the same time Okorocha declared his intention to run for the office of the president in 2023
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