The former governor of Imo state Rochas Okorocha, currently a serving Senator, will be put on trial by the Federal Government on 17-count charges involving criminal diversion of public funds running into billions of naira and properties.
The charges sighted by our correspondent and dated January 24, 2022, were signed by one A.O Ikota on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Sources told newsmen that all necessary steps including service of the charges on Okorocha and other defendants in compliance with the provisions of the law have been taken.
The arraignment is expected to be presided over by Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Abuja division of the Federal High Court.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred a 17-count money laundering charge against former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, before the Federal High Court in Abuja
Equally cited as defendants in the charge were a chieftain of the All Progressives Party (APC), Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, and five companies: Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
EFCC alleged that Okorocha who piloted affairs of Imo state from 2011 to 2019, conspired and diverted public funds to the tune of about N2.9 billion.
According to the anti-graft agency, the Defendants committed the alleged offense between October 2014 and February 2016.
It alleged that the Defendants sequentially siphoned funds from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account, and diverted same into accounts of private firms.
The charge was lodged before the court on a day Okorocha who is currently the Senator representing Imo West, declared his intention to contest for presidency in the 2023 general elections.
