Rochas granted bail to the tune of N500m by Abuja high court as he faces corruption charges

FORMER Imo State governor Senator Rochas Okorocha has been granted bail in the sum of N500m ($1.2m) by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the federal high court in Abuja after he was arraigned on a 17-count charge of fraud.

Earlier today, Senator Okorocha was arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused of diverting public properties worth N2.9bn while he was a governor. His plea of not guilty had been taken on Monday before Justice Ekwo who thereafter fixed today for arguments for and against his bail request.

In court today, political associates, friends and sympathisers of Senator Okorocha were turned back at the entrance as part of crowd control mechanisms. His sympathisers, who thronged the court premises as early as 7am, were in their hundreds struggling to access the court to witness proceedings.

However, the gate of the court had to be been firmly locked against the crowd which kept on surging upon the arrival of the former governor to the court. Inside the premises, the court room has been filled to the brim, while several other well-wishers were loitering around the court room.

Senator Okorocha had mobilised some highly-placed persons comprising senators, house owners in Abuja and top government functionaries to court to stand as surety for him if needed. He had also engaged the services of five senior advocates of Nigeria to act as his lawyers.