Rochas sues EFCC for damages saying invasion of his mansion breached his human rights

FORMER Imo State governor Senator  Rochas Okorocha has filed a suit in Abuja seeking a declaration that the recent invasion of his residence by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials was illegal and unconstitutional.

On May 24, EFCC, officials stormed Senator Okorocha's residence at No.3 Nyasa Close, Mississippi, off Ontario Crescent and after a lengthy standoff arrested him. In response, Senator Okorocha, now the lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District, is demanding N1bn worth of damages from the federal government.

In a suit filed by his lawyer Mike Ozekhome, Senator Okorocha is alleging a breach of his fundamental human rights. In the action, the EFCC and the attorney-general of the federation Abubakar Malami were listed as first and second respondents.

With the engagement of the services of Mr Ozekhome, Senator Okorocha now has five Senior Advocates of Nigeria to defend him. This latest suit was filed just hours after Senator Okorocha’s appearance before a Federal High Court in Abuja where he pleaded not guilty to the N2.9bn corruption charges brought against him by the EFCC.

Mr Ozekhome wants a declaration that the siege on Senator Okorocha’s home without any legal justification, denied him his constitutional right to privacy and was thus illegal. He also wants an order of the court directing the respondents to tender apology in at least three national newspapers.

Senator Okorocha faced 17-counts of diverting N2.9bn from Imo State Government House accounts and Imo State Local Government Joint accounts to private companies. The alleged offence was said to have been perpetrated by Senator Okorocha and one Anyim Inyerere with the use of their private companies between 2014 and 2016 when he was the Imo State governor.

Okey Amaechi, Senator Okorocha’s counsel, told the court that he had filed application for bail of his client and had also served same on EFCC. He attempted to argue the application but was opposed by the anti-graft agency which claimed that it intends to file counter affidavit against the bail issued.

Although the EFCC lawyer sought adjournment to June 1 for arguments on bail, the judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo ruled that he would take all the bail applications on May 31 and directed the agency to endeavour to file its opposition within time. Justice Ekwo subsequently ordered Senator Okorocha’s further detention till May 31 when his bail application would be argued.