EFCC brings Okorocha to court for arraignment over ‘N2.9bn fraud’

Rochas Okorocha, former Imo state governor, has been brought before a federal high court in Abuja for arraignment over fraud charges.

The EFCC had, on January 31, filed a 17-count charge against the former Imo governor before a federal high court in Abuja.

According to the EFCC, Okorocha allegedly conspired with others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and five companies to steal N2.9 billion in public funds.

Aside from Okorocha, other defendants listed 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 senator representing Imo West was forcefully arrested on Tuesday when operatives of the EFCC broke into his Abuja home after a seven-hour siege.

The commission had said the arrest was necessitated by Okorocha’s refusal to attend his trial.

Okorocha had approached the court with an ex parte motion on Friday seeking bail on the grounds that he is a presidential hopeful on the platform of the APC and that his political ambition would be jeopardised if not granted bail.

However, Inyang Ekwo, the judge, refused the bail application.

Instead, the judge ordered Okorocha to put the federal government on notice to appear in court to defend his detention.