‘The judgment won’t stand’ — Okorocha to appeal final forfeiture of his properties

Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo, says he will appeal the ruling of the state high court on the final forfeiture of properties linked to him.

TheCable had reported that an Owerri high court, on Monday, ordered the final forfeiture of properties “illegally acquired” by Okorocha.

But reacting to the judgement, Okorocha, through Oba Maduabuchi, his lead counsel, expressed displeasure over the court’s decision, saying the judge hurriedly gave the ruling without any communication to him and his legal team.

Maduabuchi said Louis Alozie, had on behalf of the state government, requested the court to allow Okorocha’s team to adopt their various processes so that the judge can deliver a ruling if need be.

He said as of August 6, the court was meant to sit to adopt the preliminary objections in the matter, but that the court did not, and the reason given was that “the judge was indisposed to entertain the matter”.

He said all parties involved in the case later agreed to sit on August 11 due to stay-at-home order by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Maduabuchi further said the crux of his preliminary objection was that the properties which the state government wants Okorocha to forfeit are subjects of litigations pending in various courts as far back as 2019.

He added that his legal team will appeal the judgment and will not in any way allow “the level of perfidy exhibited by the Owerri high court presided over by Justice Fred Njemanze to stand”.