ABUJA – Barely 72 hours after his 2023 presidential campaign posters flooded major streets of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 17-count criminal charge against a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
Okorocha was the governor of Imo State from 2011 to 2019.
He is presently a senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly.
So far, no date has been fixed for the arraignment of Okorocha at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the 17-count criminal charge was instituted against the former governor on Monday.
According to the anti-graft agency, Senator Okorocha, who is believed to be having a running battle with Governor Hope Uzodimma, is being charged to court over allegation of conspiracy with his cronies, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to fritter the sum of N2.9 billion public funds.
Also to be docked alongside Okorocha, are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, NaphtaliI international Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
Part of the documents filed in court showed how these actor awarded 12 contracts worth N20 billion in alleged violation of the Public Procurement Act.
Court processes also stated how a government committee uncovered the sum of N112.8 billion “dubious debts” which various banks owed the state during Okorocha’s tenure.
It would be recalled that the EFCC had in April 2021, arrested the former governor and quizzed him for two days over issues bordering on alleged corruption and financial impropriety.
Specifically, Okorocha is being accused by the state government of committing various corrupt practices including diversion and pilfering of public funds belonging to the state government.
However, upon interrogation, he denied committing any such offence.
However, no Judge has been assigned the hearing of the case.
