By Charles Igbo
The forfeiture is monumental and unprecedented in the history of Imo State. And so is whatever spirit that was behind the acquisition of what were forfeited. They compare only to the infectious shout of “As the Court pleases” which everybody in the Court exclaimed and acquiesced to. This was followed by an applause outside the Court.
By that simple pronouncements by the Judge, former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, lost all, almost.
The scene was a High Court in Owerri. The Judge: His Lordship, Hon. Justice Fred Njemanze. He was ruling on a case very dear to the hearts of the Government and people of Imo State.
The foundation to it was laid by the immediate past Governor of Imo State, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.
On his assumption of office on May 29, 2019, he was confronted with an avalanche of outcry and petitions over a number of things.
To sort things out, he set up a couple of Commissions and Panels of Judiciary. The case at hand stems from the report of one of the Judicial Panels – Lands and Other Related Matters.
In the report, the Judicial Panel had a number of recommendations, a number which a Government Whitepaper was issued and gazzetted.
Based on that, the State Government went to Court, and on February 24, an Owerri High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Njemanze, granted an Order of Interim forfeiture against all the property ,allegedly, illegally acquired by Okorocha.
The suit, case number, HOW/191/2021 had as first, second and third defendants, Rochas Okorocha, Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi, and Incorporated Trustees of Rochas Foundation against the Attorney General of the State.
In an ex-parte motion argued on behalf of the State by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Louis Alozie, the properties temporarily forfeited are : Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments; IBC Staff Quaters which Okorocha took over and converted for the purpose of Rochas Foundation College, Owerri, Magistrate Quaters, Orlu, Road/Cooperative office/ Girls Guide illegally converted to private use housing Market Square, Kilimanjaro Eatery, Public building plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout meant for the Ministry of Women Affaira for skills acquisition centre, but illegally acquired by Mrs Okorocha’s All-in-Stall Aba road, Plot P5 Naze Residential Lay out, part of Primary School Board annexed to Mrs Okorocha’s All-in-Stall Aba road, and all the properties as contained in pages 226 to 272 of the Government Whitepaper on the recommendation of the Judicial Panel headed by
Justice Duruoha-Igwe panel on illegally acquired landed property.
The Judge ordered the Applicant to publish the list of properties in two national and local newspapers to enable anyone who wants to stop making the Order permanent, or who has any interest in any, to apply to the court, and show cause, why the order will not be made permanent.
Last week, after the Imo State Government sealed the Royal Palm Hotel and Apartments, after its seizure, Okorocha, along with his Sons-in-Law, aides and supporters went and unsealed it in order to repossess it. He and 14 of them were arrested by the Police detained and arraigned before a Magistrate Court.
Okorocha who was released late in the night, allegedly, on health grounds, was granted bail very late in the night. But he reneged the agreement to appear in court with his 14 aides and supporters. Only the 14 appeared, and were granted bail to the tune of five million Naira each, and a surety who must be a Traditional Ruler.
Okorocha’s sons-in-law, including, allegedly, Uche Nwosu, were, declared wanted by the Police.
It is not known yet if Okorocha will still appear in Court, since the South-east Governors Forum, headed by Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has intervened.
