By Gideon Njoku
The prayers of Imo people were finally answered on Wednesday, July 24, when officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, descended on Imo state.
They were there to seal a number of properties owned by the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha and members of his family for investigation. As the EFCC did that, there was wild celebration in Imo by a number of people who tripped out to cheer them.
For months running into years, in his eight years in office, Imolites were unanimous on what they described as the brazen looting of the state by Okorocha and Family. Not a few people insist that Okorocha owns about 50 % state capital and some more across the state. He allegedly brazenly seized people’s land, tampered with local government funds, state allocations, internal revenue, and more.
On arrival the EFCC sealed, among many others, the luxurious Spring Palm Estate owned by his wife Nkechi, and two high profile schools East High Academy and East High School owned by his daughter, Mrs Uloma Nwosu. They also sealed off the Royal Palm Hotel
But as they did so, the people have given the Commission a shopping list of what to seize from, and investigate Okorocha on, all running into billions of Naira.
The shopping list include:
*The alleged N21.6 billion taken from the local government system of the State by Okorocha.
*The Eastern Palm University, allegedly built with state funds money but personalized by Okorocha. The University was approved by the Nigerian Universities Commission, NUC, as the 42nd State University. Before the former Governor sought and got approval for the said university, he had acquired land with government instruments and built all the houses at the University premises for the relocation of the Imo State University to his Community, Ogboko, where the University is situated today.
The plot to relocate Imo state University was resisted, prompting him to jettison the idea of relocation to apply for a fresh license from NUC. In a chat with the media two years ago, he disclosed that the state fund in the university was to the tune of N650 million only. But reliable sources in the state insist that he had invested, at least, N15 Billion of State, funds on the university. Today, the former Governor goes around saying that Imo State has only ten percent equity in the Eastern Palm University while his Rochas Foundation has ninety percent
*The alleged N96 billion of Imo’s IGR for eight years.
*The over N40 billion allegedly looted through the failed 27 general hospital project in the 27 LGAs in the state.
*There is the sprawling premises of the Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Orji, which the former Governor used his office as Governor and converted the asset to himself, after building gigantic blocks at the facility with government money.
*There is, also, the Nekede and Orji Mechanic Villages. The vast expanse of land occupied by the artisans and mechanics at the Nekede mechanic village as well as Orji Mechanic village was forcefully taken by the former Governor and given to his family members and cronies.
*Also, the vast expanse of land on the Sam Mbakwe Airport road was acquired by the Government for the purpose of attracting a Naval Base. But over 70% of the said land was converted to a personal estate by the former Governor.
*There is the Adapalm Ohaji, which Okorocha leased out to investors, only known to him, and now, left in ruins.
*The Concorde Hotels, built by Sam Mbakwe, a former Governor of the State which was, allegedly,acquired by Okorocha through some proxies.
* Westbrook Hotels which is linked to Okorocha’s son-in-law, Uche Nwosu.
*WODDI Wellness Center owned by Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi, built on the former Imo State Secretariat Annex, a land forcefully acquired from the State, allegedly,by Uche Nwosu, when he was Commissioner for Lands.
* The Reach FM owned by Uche Nwosu.
*The multi billion Naira Farmers Market built by Geraldine, Okorocha’s sister, on a land belonging to the State.
*Over twenty-five plots of State land, allegedly, acquired by Uche Nwosu upon which El Freeda Foundation was built. This is the Foundation through which billions of Naira, allegedly, have been laundered out of the State.
*Extervia Mega Supermarket opposite the Civic Center Estate, owned by Ogechi Ololo, Okorocha’s sister.
*The Municipal Plaza owned by Nkechi Okorocha, built on a land forcefully acquired from a civil servant by Uche Nwosu.
*Twitter Bites acquired by Geraldine Okorocha forcefully from Mr. Fans.
*Spibat Estate most of which land was, allegedly, forcefully taken from Mbieri people by Okorocha.
*House of Freeda Malls in Owerri, Abuja and Lagos built by Uloma, Uche Nwosu’s wife.
*A large poultry farm beside Shoprite owned by Uche Nwosu on a land forcefully acquired.
*A probe into the JPROS financial sleaze perpetrated during Okorocha’s first term for which his first deputy governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, was falsely framed and impeached.
*Recovery of over N800 million, allegedly, given to Okorocha’s sister, Geraldine, per annum, for Christmas trees.
* Recovery of the N600 million, allegedly,diverted through the supposed renovation of the Imo State Secretariat.
*Recovery of N18 billion, allegedly, looted through the alleged construction of primary school blocks across the State.
*Recovery of all the markets in the State which Okorocha has, allegedly, claimed 30% ownership.
*Recovery of the ISOPADEC funds and the 13% of oil derivation funds which amount to over N20 billion.
*Recovery of the cardboard industry at Owerri-Ebeiri in Orlu.
*Recovery of the about N2 billion diverted, allegedly, through the construction of the completely worthless Akachi Tower.
*A probe into, and recovery of over N120 billion diverted through failed road projects. There is no single road project done by Okorocha that is not a failure.
*Recovery of hundreds of plots of land taken from the State by Okorocha and family, spread across the state.
*Recovery of Imo’s security votes which Okorocha, allegedly, personalized for eight years
*Recovery of the billions of Naira looted through the construction of deadly concrete beams on the roads and overhead iron projectiles.
*Recovery of IRROMA, equipment worth billions of Naira, allegedly,looted by Okorocha.
*Recovery of ITC vehicles and investments, allegedly, appropriated by Okorocha.
Okorocha, in a statement accused the Imo State government led by Ihedioha of being responsible for his EFCC ordeal. An accusation Ihedioha vehemently denies.
For the people of the state, however, the question is not who is responsible, but: If Okorocha is guilty of the overwhelming allegations or not.
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