Nigeria: EFCC Arrests Ex-Imo Governor Okorocha

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday arrested a former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, in Abuja.

Spokesman of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed his arrest to THISDAY.

“Yes. It is true. He is with us. He was arrested in Abuja,” he said.

On whether he would spend the night at the commission, he said: “He was with us as at the time I left the office. I have left the office.”

The former governor, who is also the senator representing Imo West senatorial district, has been having a running battle with his successor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, over the ownership of some assets in Owerri, the state capital which the state government had sealed.

While the state government claimed the property, Spring Palms Estate, belonged to the state government, Okorocha insisted that they belonged to members of his family.

The former governor had gone to the property with his supporters to unseal it.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, in Abuja.

Spokesman of EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed his arrest to THISDAY.

“Yes. It is true. He is with us. He was arrested in Abuja,” he said.

On whether he would spend the night at the commission, he said: “He was with us as at the time I left the office. I have left the office.”

The former governor, who is also the senator representing Imo West senatorial district, has been having a running battle with his successor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, over the ownership of some assets in Owerri, the state capital which the state government had sealed.

While the state government claimed the property, Spring Palms Estate, belonged to the state government, Okorocha insisted that they belonged to members of his family.

The former governor had gone to the property with his supporters to unseal it.

The situation degenerated into violence, leading to the arrest of the former governor by the Imo State Police Command on the orders of the state government.

Okorocha was later released after the intervention of the presidency.

Uzodimma had explained why his administration seized the disputed property.

He said the state government’s action was in accordance with a report of a judicial panel set up by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha before he left office.

An Imo State High Court later ordered the interim forfeiture of all the property said to be acquired through “illegal means” by Okorocha.

Justice Fred Njemanze gave the order following an ex-parte application filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Louis Alozie.

The property, according to the court, include: “Eastern Palm University, Ogboko; Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments; IBC staff quarters illegally acquired for the purpose of Rochas Foundation College, Owerri; Magistrate Quarters, Orlu road/cooperative office/Girls Guide illegally converted to private use housing market square, Kilimanjaro eatery; public building plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout given to the Ministry of Women Affairs for establishing a skills acquisition centre for women, illegally acquired for the benefit of Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha’s all-in stall, Aba road.

 

Others are: “Plot P5, Naze residential layout, initially part of primary school management board but now annexed to all-in stall, Aba road belonging to Nkechi Okorocha, and all the properties contained from pages 226 to 272 of the government white paper on the recommendation of the judicial commission of inquiry into land administration in Imo State from June 2006 to May 2019.”

 

 The situation degenerated into violence, leading to the arrest of the former governor by the Imo State Police Command on the orders of the state government.

 

 Okorocha was later released after the intervention of the presidency.

 

Uzodimma had explained why his administration seized the disputed property.

 

He said the state government’s action was in accordance with a report of a judicial panel set up by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha before he left office.

 

An Imo State High Court later ordered the interim forfeiture of all the property said to be acquired through “illegal means” by Okorocha.

 

Justice Fred Njemanze gave the order following an ex-parte application filed by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Louis Alozie.

 

The property, according to the court, include: “Eastern Palm University, Ogboko; Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments; IBC staff quarters illegally acquired for the purpose of Rochas Foundation College, Owerri; Magistrate Quarters, Orlu road/cooperative office/Girls Guide illegally converted to private use housing market square, Kilimanjaro eatery; public building plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout given to the Ministry of Women Affairs for establishing a skills acquisition centre for women, illegally acquired for the benefit of Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha’s all-in stall, Aba road.

 

Others are: “Plot P5, Naze residential layout, initially part of primary school management board but now annexed to all-in stall, Aba road belonging to Nkechi Okorocha, and all the properties contained from pages 226 to 272 of the government white paper on the recommendation of the judicial commission of inquiry into land administration in Imo State from June 2006 to May 2019.”

Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja

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