There seems to be no hiding place for the former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday picked him up for questioning over allegations of money laundering and related financial crimes.
Sources close to the anti-graft agency said Okorocha, currently representing Imo West Senatorial district in the National Assembly, was interrogated for “suspected multiple cases of fraud and money laundering during his tenure as governor”.
The Senator, who held sway as governor between 2011 and 2019, was reportedly arrested about 4pm on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.
The EFCC source said he is being quizzed on various accusations levelled against him, including alleged N7.9 billion fraud as well as another N1.5 billion hospital project linked to one of his former aides.
Justice T G Ringim of the Federal High Court in Owerri had earlier granted the EFCC a final forfeiture order on the state-of-the art 200-bed Dews of Hope Hospital, Owerri, suspected to have been built with Imo State funds when Okorocha served as the Chief Executive.
“The ex-governor has been on the EFCC radar in the last three years over alleged N7. 9 billion money laundering. One of our investigators appeared in court and declared why he was wanted.
“He also has questions to answer on a separate N1.5 billion hospital built with funds from the Imo State accounts and traced to one of his former aides.
“On July 25, 2019, we invoked Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud, and other Related Offences Act 2006 to seize the hospital which ex-aide disowned.
“Okorocha has to explain the mystery behind the hospital. His former aide and members of board of directors of the hospital said they did not know how it was built.
“The Managing Director of the hospital, on invitation, could not also explain how the hospital project was funded.” According to the insider; “But, preliminary investigation confirmed that a former Permanent Secretary during Okorocha’s administration was a signatory to the hospital’s accounts.
“There may be other multiple cases as uncovered by the past and present administrations in the state. He is undergoing interrogation as I speak with you.”
However, reports said it was still uncertain if the EFCC will also questioned the former governor on the alleged N112.8 billion “dubious debts” which is outstanding against the state in nine commercial banks.
A Commission of Inquiry set by the current State government had recommended that Owelle Okorocha be made to account for the debts.
Confirming the arrest, Head of Media and Publicity of EFCC, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, said: “It is true that Okorocha has been arrested. It is about a case some of you are familiar with.”
The latest arrest of Senator Okorocha climaxes his spirited attempt to stop EFCC’s investigation into his eight years tenure in the last one year.
On May 18, last year, the former governor had filed a suit to stop the EFCC from probing him and prayed the court to “direct the 1st defendant (EFCC) and the 3rd to the 10th defendants (the Imo state attorney-general (AG) and the Justice Iheaka-led probe panel on contract awards) to stay all further actions and proceedings until the 2nd defendant (the state AG) decides who should carry out the investigation.”
But a Federal High Court in Abuja, on July 8, 2020, refused his application to restrain the EFCC from investigating him for alleged financial violations while serving as governor.
In recent times, Senator Okorocha has faced a running battle with his successor in office, Governor Hope Uzodimma, over suspected acquisition of public assets, including a university.
The state government is also linking him with recent attacks on Owerri by unknown gunmen that stormed the state Police headquarters and the Correctional Centre to free about 2,000 inmates and detainees. – With the Nation reports
