Alleged N2.9bn fraud: Court rejects Okorocha’s bail plea

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, refused to grant bail to the former governor of Imo State, Sen. Rochas Okorocha.

Okorocha is currently in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s custody, following his arrest by the EFCC on Tuesday.

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, who refused to admit Okorocha to bail, ordered the former governor, through his lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, to put the EFCC on notice.

Olanipekun had, in an ex-parte motion dated May 26 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/28/2022, prayed the court to grant Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West Senatorial District at the Senate, bail on liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice filed on May 25.

But Justice Ekwo held that since the matter would be coming up on Monday, making an order for the release of the lawmaker on bail would be unnecessary.

Olanipekun also told the court that he had also filed a motion on notice, seeking his client’s bail.

The presiding judge, who fixed May 30 for the hearing of the motions, however, directed the lawyer to put the EFCC on notice.

Justice Ekwo had, at the last adjourned date, given the anti-graft agency May 30 as the last time the matter would be adjourned, following the EFCC’s complaint that it had been unable to serve Okorocha despite several efforts.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: EFCC arrests Okorocha

The judge had threatened to strike out the case if the EFCC failed to produce the senator on the next adjourned date, after two adjournments for his arraignment.

The Star, on Tuesday, reported Okorocha was arrested by EFCC operatives after several hours of laying siege at his residence in the Maitama area of Abuja.

It was reported that the former governor was arrested after security operatives broke the entrance door into his home.

Speaking on the arrest, EFCC, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said its operatives stormed Okorocha’s residence to arrest him, following the ex-governor’s refusal to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the commission.

Uwujaren stated that the 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.

He added that the case was assigned to Justice Ekwo, noting that several attempts to arraign Senator Okorocha were twice stalled owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes.

The Star