Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have, at last, arrested a former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, after a long siege to his Maitama residence in the Federal Capital Territory, for hours in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Security operatives who accompanied the EFCC officers shot sporadically to disperse a crowd of supporters who had come to show solidarity with the embattled former governor.
Video footage seem to suggest that the EFCC officers broke into Okorocha’s residence through the ceiling before to get him.
There are strong indications that Okorocha might be a guest of the EFCC till May 30.
A source at the commission said that Okorocha would be taken to face Justice Ekwo on May 22, the last date of adjournments his case.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, explained in a statement on Tuesday that the Commission had to effect the arrest of the former Governor for evading prosecution.
Uwujaren made the comment in a statement with the title ‘Why We Are At Okorocha’s Home – EFCC.”
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today May 24, 2022, arrived at the Maitama, Abuja home of a former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, to effect his arrest.
The move followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission.
EFCC had on January 24, 2022 filed a 17-count criminal charge bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9billion against Okorocha.
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, March 28th, 2022, Justice Ekwo before adjourning until May 30th, 2022, had warned that it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter”.
“In the circumstances, the Commission is left with no option than to effect the arrest of Senator Okorocha and bring him to trial.” The statement read
At the last adjourned date, March 28th, 2022, Justice Ekwo before adjourning until May 30th, 2022, had warned that it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter”.