The Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has explained the reason for invading the residence of former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha on Tuesday May 24, 2022.
According a statement by the anti-graft agency, the move followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission.
The EFCC accused Okorocha and six others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, of conspiring to steal N2.9 billion belonging to the Imo State government.
Senator Rochas Okorocha who was finally arrested after a long siege to his Abuja residence, had earlier accused the agency of holding him hostage in his own home.
The statement signed by the commission’s spokesman partly reads, “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 Rochas Okorocha and bring him to trial.”
