Barely 72 hours after his 2023 presidential campaign posters flooded major streets of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a 17-count criminal charge against a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
Okorocha was the governor of Imo State from 2011 to 2019.
He is presently a senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly.
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So far, no date has been fixed for the arraignment of Okorocha at the Federal High Court in Abuja, wherethe17-countcriminalchargewasinstitutedagainst theformergovernoronMonday.
According to the anti-graft agency, Senator Okorocha, who is believed to be having a running battle with Governor Hope Uzodimma, is being charged to court over allegation of conspiracy with his cronies, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to fritter the sum of N2.9 billion public funds.
Also to be docked alongside Okorocha, are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, NaphtaliInternational Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid ProjectsConsultingLimited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
Part of the documents filed incourtshowedhowthesenator awarded 12 contracts worth N20 billioninallegedviolation of the Public Procurement Act.
Court processes also stated how a government committee uncovered the sum of N112.8 billion “dubious debts” which various banks owed the state during Okorocha’s tenure.
Specifically, Okorocha is being accused by the state government of committing various corrupt practices including diversion andpilfering of public funds belonging to the state government.
However, upon interrogation, he denied committing any such offence.
However, no judge has been assigned the case.
Similarly, the EFCC has detained the Managing Director of MedviewAirline, Muneer Bankole, over Hajj funds.
Bankole, who arrived at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja about 11a.m on Monday was immediately questioned by the operatives of the commission.
An EFCC source disclosed that Bankole was invited by the anti-graft agency over a case of alleged diversion of 50 percent of funds paid to him by the National Hajj Commission, and additional $900,000 for the airlift of pilgrims in 2019.
He allegedly received the funds as mobilisation but did not execute the contract.
The spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujaren, when contacted confirmed the arrest.