Court remands Okorocha in EFCC Custody Over Alleged N2.9bn Fraud

Embattled former governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has appeared before a federal high court in Abuja where he pleaded not guilty to the N2.9 billion corruption charges brought against him by the federal government.

In the 17-count charges, Okorocha was accused of diverting n2.9 billion from Imo state government house accounts and that of Imo state local government joint accounts to private companies.

The alleged offence was said to have been perpetrated by Okorocha and one Anyim Inyerere with the use of their private companies between 2014 and 2016 when he held sway as the governor of Imo state.

Although he denied all the charges, Okorocha has engaged the services of four Senior Advocates of Nigeria to defend him in court.

Shortly after taking plea, EFCC counsel, Gbolahan Latona, asked the judge for an adjournment to enable him to assemble his witnesses that will testify during the trial.

Although, the EFCC’s lawyer sought adjournment to June 1, 2022 for arguments on bail, Justice Ekwo ruled that he would take all the bail applications on May 31 and directed EFCC to endeavour to  file its opposition within time.

Justice Inyang Ekwo subsequently ordered Okorocha’s further detention at the EFCC till May 31 when his bail application would be argued.