By Gideon Njoku
There was subdued jubilation in parts of Imo State, on Friday, when news filtered in that a former Aide to former Governor Rochas Okorocha, has lost his, alleged, expansive hospital to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Dr Paschal Obi, now a member of the House of Representatives, was Permanent Secretary, Government House, and Principal Secretary to Okorocha.
Dews of Hope, a- 200 bed hospital located in Owerri, boasts of modern eqiupments and facilities, and, is worth N1.5billion.
The permanent forfeiture order was sequel upon a ruling by Justice T.G. Ringim of the Federal High Court, Owerri.
Earlier on August 22, Hon. Justice A.T. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Port Hacourt, had issued a temporary forfeiture order on the hospital.
Announcing its Permanent forfeiture as ordered by Justice Ringim, Wilson Uwujaren, Head of Media and Publicity, EFCC, in a statement said: “Dr Paschal Obi who happened to be the former Permanent Secretary and Principal Secretary to Okorocha, now a serving House of Representatives member, representing the Ideato North and South Federal Constituency, was the signatory to the account.
“However, Obi vehemently denied the ownership of the hospital when he was invited by the Enugu Zonal Office of the EFCC, prompting an invitation to the members of the Board of Directors of the hospital who also said they neither knew how it was built, nor even operated on a daily basis.
“The Managing Director of the hospital could also not explain how the establishment of the hospital was funded.
“These developments, then, led the Commission to file for the final forfeiture of the property in July 25, 2019, under Section 17 of The Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2016.”
Justice Ringim has just granted the request for the final forfeiture, which elucidated a chorus of “One down, more to go”, in parts of Imo State.
The people’s only plea is that the property be forfeited to the Imo State Government, and not to the Federal Government, as the funds used to acquire same belong to the state.
