By Charles Igbo
After spending two nights in its custody, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has released the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha. He faced interrogation, and made statements.
Though the terms of release was not known at the time of this report, this magazine gathered that he was given an administrative bail.
Announcing the release of the Senator representing Imo North at the Senate, his Media Adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, said that his Principal was released Thursday afternoon, and had gone back to his house.
Recall that Okorocha was arrested on Tuesday, April 12, 202, in his Unity House, Abuja, office, by EFCC Operatives, and was detained at the Commission’s Wuse 2 office.
While some reports said he was arrested after a five-hour standoff with the Operatives who had been on his trail, after he, allegedly, continuously ignored the Commission’s invitation, Onwuemeodo said he went to the EFFC on invitation.
Speculations are that he was arrested over the alleged monumental fraud committed during his tenure as Imo Governor, including an allegation of money laundering to the tune of billions of Naira.
But Onwuemeodo said he was only invited for some clarifications, considering that the forner Governor and the EFCC already are in court, especially, as there is a new boss at the Commission.
In a statement, Thursday evening, announcing Okorocha’s release, Onwuemeodo celebrated it, saying that his boss lived upto his promise to fully cooperate with the EFCC.
Onwuemeodo said it didn’t matter how long Okorocha stayed with the EFCC. The important thing, he notes, is that he has been given the opportunity to answer to the avalanche of petitions to the Commission against him.
Following, is the full text of Onwuemeodo’s press release entitled;
RE: SENATOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA, HAS GONE HOME FROM THE EFCC OFFICE:
“With Gratitude to God Almighty , we are delighted to inform the general public that , the former governor of lmo state, and by the GRACE OF GOD, the Senator Representing lmo West senatorial District, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, is out of the office of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC and he is now in his house .
“He left the Commission’s office, on the afternoon of Thursday, April 15, 2021.
“It should be recalled that , we had , in our reaction to his trip to the EFCC office, on the invitation of the Commission assured that , the former lmo State Governor, would fully cooperate with the agents of the Commission , since it was operating within the arm-pit of the law establishing it.
“And we are happy to inform that, the Distinguished Senator, lived upto that vow or promise. We didn’t bother about whether he spent 24 hours or 48 hours at the Commission’s office. We were only keen in his having the needed opportunity to address the allegations contained in the avalanche of petitions written by the lmo State Government, against the former governor.
“Remember also that, we had alluded that, EFCC was not a slaughter house, but a responsible lnstitution, established for the good of the nation and her people. And Okorocha being in his house today, only confirmed our hypothesis that, indeed, the Commission’s office is not an abattoir.
“We thank Nigerians who had called or sent messages of solidarity, encouragement and support for the Senator. We thank those who had also done same, from outside the Country.
“For lmo people who had organised themselves in groups, offering prayers of intercession, we say to them , thank you. May the Good LORD, continue to bless them all.
“To the media, may God grant you all, all you need to grow from strength to strength.
“We also pray for EFCC and its management. Together, we must change the growing perspection on the side of some Nigerians, that once any public figure is at the EFCC , either by invitation or by arrest, it is something ominous . That should not be the case.
“Finally, we shall continue to be law- abiding. Thank you.”
Being invited and/or arrested by the EFCC has become like rites of passage for most ex-Governors. A number of them are being prosecuted in Court while two of them, Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, and Jolly Nyame of Taraba State, are serving jail sentences.
James Ibori, former Governor of Delta State, served his own jail in the United Kingdom after being found guilty of money laundering.
