EFCC arrest Rochas in Abuja after he repeatedly shuns invitations to report to their office

FORMER Imo State governor Senator Rochas Okorocha has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja and taken to its headquarters for questioning regarding corruption charges pending against him.

Senator Okorocha, currently the lawmaker representing the Imo West Senatorial District, served as governor between 2011 and 2019. According to current Imo State officials, his tenure was characterised with corruption, however, as among other things, he appropriated a lot of public property to himself.

For instance, it is alleged that equipment was looted from the Nsu Ceramic and Tiles Industry in Ehime Mbano, which was established by the administration of the late Sam Mbakwe, the first civilian governor of old Imo State and appropriated by Senator Okorocha. Simon Ebegbulem, the Imo State commissioner for commerce and industry, said the equipment was looted in preparation for the establishment of a private ceramic and tiles company by Senator Okorocha and was stored with other public-owned facilities.

In February this year, Senator Okorocha was arrested after he forced his way into the Royal Spring Palm Estate, Owerri. Governor Hope Uzodinma had seized the estate which belongs to Senator Okorocha's wife Nkechi, claiming it was state property appropriated by the former governor.

Despite all the corruption allegations surrounding him, Senator Okorocha has made it clear he will run for president in 2023. However, he has rebuffed all invitations from the EFCC to report to their offices despite the fact that the agency has secured court injunctions against him seizing properties he owns.

Exasperated with Senator Okorocha's failure to honour their repeated invitation requests, EFCC officials decided to arrest him this morning. EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the development, saying they picked up Senator Okorocha from his private office in Abuja.

In February, Senator Okorocha accused Governor Uzodinma of unleashing the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission against him. he denied all the corruption allegations saying that the state government had not been able to prove anything against him and family in court.

Senator Okorocha said: “I was never a poor man before I became governor of Imo state. I came here, brought my children to invest, brought everybody to invest."