Chidi Samuel|
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday sealed some properties traced to the former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, and members of his family.
The properties sealed by the anti-graft agency include, schools, a hotel, hospital, estate, supermarket and residential buildings.
In a statement, Tony Orilade, EFCC’s head of media and publicity, said the commission took the action following the refusal of Okorocha to honour its invitations for questioning.
The statement read, “The marking of the properties which is a fall-out of our painstaking investigation, is as a result of the failure of the suspects to honour the commission’s invitation for questioning on the propriety of their acquisition.”
“The properties include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, former principal secretary to ex-governor Okorocha; Market Square Super Market; All in One Shop; and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting Corporation now hosting Rochas Foundation College owned by Senator Okoroacha.
“Other properties are: East High Academy and East High College, owned by Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu; Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, a 16 block cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million Naira estate traced to Okorocha’s wife.
“The Commission at no time ‘raided’ nor ‘harassed’ anyone in the course of marking the properties as its operatives, in line with international best practices, informed the occupants of the facilities in good time, before taking the action.
“It is also pertinent to state that the Commission has pictorial and video evidences which put a lie to the claim that Rochas Foundation College was allegedly raided by the EFCC while in session. This could not be so because the school was not in session and could not have had its students harassed as was fed some online media.
“The Commission would ordinarily not bother with any allegation coming from the camp of Senator Okorocha, having noted his penchant for frivolities and propaganda; but this refutal has become pertinent in other to clear doubts especially in these days of fake news.”
But reacting to the development, Okorocha accused the EFCC of witch haunt and disregarding a court order on the matter.
Okorocha’s spokesman Sam Onwuemodo also accuse the PDP government of Emeka Ihedioha in Imo state of conniving with the EFCC to discredit Okorocha’s achievement’s in the state.
Steve Osuji, the special adviser to governor Emeka Ihedioha, has, however, distanced the state government from Okorocha’s ordeal in the hands of the anti-graft agency.
According to Osuji, the former governor’s travail was well documented before governor Ihedioha assumed office.
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