The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought Rochas Okorocha before the Federal High Court in Abuja for alleged fraud over N2.9B corruption charges.
On Monday morning the anti-graft agency conveyed the ex-governor to the Federal High Court in Abuja, manned by heavy security.
Okorocha was brought to court straight from the EFCC custody, where he had been detained since last week after he was forcefully arrested on Tuesday in his Abuja residence.
Okorocha was driven to the court premises at about 8:45 a.m. manned by heavy security personnel.
He was dressed in his usual green-colored Agbada with a brown cap to match, the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential aspirant, who is wearing a pensive mood, was made to sit near a dock where his plea on the fraud charges against him would be taken this morning.
His usual smiles and waiving of the handkerchief to admirers are completely absent in his mood in the courtroom.
Many of his family members and political associates who are in court ahead of his arrival could not get direct access to him due to heavy security mounted around him.
Mr. Kehinde Ogunwumiju, who is his lead counsel is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has also arrived in court with a retinue of other lawyers.
At the time of this report, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo who is to handle the case is being awaited in the court.
Recall that Okorocha was forcefully arrested on Tuesday in his Abuja residence by EFCC operatives as part of efforts to ensure his appearance in court today.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja had on Monday, March 28, issued a threat to strike out the N2.9 billion money laundering charges against Okorocha should the Federal Government fail again to cause his appearance in court.
The judge had threatened to throw out the charges following the inability of the Federal Government to serve charges on Okorocha as required by law.
At the March 28 proceedings, the Federal Government, for the second time through its counsel, Mr. Cosmos Ugwu, had told Justice Ekwo that he has not been able to see Okorocha and serve him with the charges.
The Federal Government’s charges against Okorocha dated January 24, 2022, were signed by one A.O Ikota on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
ALSO, READ
