Gunshots rented the atmosphere at the Abuja residence of the former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, over an attempt to arrest the Senator by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC operatives and armed police officers had earlier on Tuesday besieged the Abuja residence of the senator representing Imo West Senatorial District.
Some of the former governor’s supporters later arrived his residence and protested the presence of the security operatives.
The supporters were, however, dispersed by the security operatives, who shot severally into the air.
Meanwhile, the EFCC said its operatives stormed Okorocha’s residence in Abuja on Tuesday to arrest him, following the former governor’s refusal to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted to him by the commission.
The anti-graft agency made this known via a statement issued by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, a copy of which was made available to The Star on Tuesday.
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 Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, noting that several attempts to arraign Senator Okorocha were twice stalled owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes.
READ ALSO: EFCC: We’re after Okorocha over N2.9bn fraud trial
The EFCC spokesman said the anti-graft agency was left with no option than to arrest the two-term former governor of Imo State.
The statement read: “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 EFCC spokesperson stated.
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