Nigerian Anti-graft Company, EFCC, Takes Former Imo Governor, Okorocha To Courtroom Over Alleged N2.9Billion Fraud

The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) has charged former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha earlier than a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja with N2.9 billion corruption costs.

Okorocha was taken to the courtroom premises at about 8:45 am on Monday.

A few of his members of the family and political associates who had been in courtroom forward of his arrival couldn’t get direct entry to him on account of heavy safety mounted round him.

The aides, together with former Commissioners, are, nonetheless, milling round to catch a glimpse of the politician representing Imo West within the Senate, Every day Publish experiences.

His lead counsel, Mr Kehinde Ogunwumiju, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has additionally arrived in courtroom with an entourage of different legal professionals.

Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo who’s to deal with the case was not but in about on the time of submitting this report. Nevertheless, the Registrar and different staff had been already seated.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal Excessive Courtroom, Abuja had on Monday, March 28, issued a menace to strike out the N2.9 billion cash laundering costs in opposition to Okorocha ought to the Nigerian Authorities fail once more to trigger his look in courtroom.

The decide had threatened to throw out the fees following the lack of the federal government to serve Okorocha with the fees as required by regulation.

On the March 28 proceedings, the federal government, for the second time via its counsel, Mr Cosmos Ugwu, advised Justice Ekwo that he had not been capable of see Okorocha and serve him with the fees.

Nevertheless, Okorocha was forcefully arrested on Tuesday in his Abuja residence by EFCC operatives as a part of efforts to make sure his look in courtroom right now (Monday).

The federal government’s costs in opposition to Okorocha, dated January 24, 2022, had been signed by one A.O. Ikota on behalf of the EFCC.

Okorocha, who’s at the moment a Senator representing Imo West within the Nationwide Meeting, is to face trial alongside six others within the N2.9 billion cash laundering prison costs.

The Senator is being placed on trial by the federal government on 17 counts involving prison diversion of public funds and properties.