EFCC Arrests Okorocha Ex-Imo state Governor After Nine-hour Siege
After several hours of the siege on the residence of the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) finally the former governor of Imo state, took him to custody for arraignment on May 30.
The anti-graft team stormed the former governor’s residence in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to violate the administrative granted him and shun several invitations from the commission.
The EFCC operatives were seen within the former governor’s premises in a video, insisting that Okorocha, who is running for president on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), submit to arrest or honour a long-standing invitation to their office.
Security guards accompanying the EFCC officers fired sporadically to disperse a crowd of supporters who had gathered to show solidarity for the embattled former governor.
According to viral video footage, EFCC officers broke into Okorocha’s home through the ceiling before arresting him.
Okorocha, on the other hand, claimed that the commission was after him to prevent him from participating in the APC’s presidential screening.
However, the commission in a message on its Facebook page on Tuesday titled, ‘Why We Are At Okorocha’s Home, the EFCC said the action was taken in response to the former governor’s refusal to accept invitations after he violated the Commission’s administrative bail.
It would be recalled that the commission had on January 24, 2022, filed a 17-count criminal charge against Okorocha for diversion of public funds and properties totaling N2.9 billion.
“Operators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arrived at the Maitama, Abuja home of a former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas OkorototallingMay 24, 2022, to effect his arrest,” the statement read.
“The move followed the former governor’s refusal to accept invitations after he violated the Commission’s administrative bail.
“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, 28 March, 2022, Justice Ekwo before adjourning until May 30th, 2022, had warned that it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter”.
According to the EFCC, the former Imo governor allegedly conspired with others, including an APC member, and five companies to steal N2.9 billion in public funds.
The former governor who is currently in the senate ended his administration in Imo state in 2019 and has since been having a running battle with the commission and the current administration in his state.
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