Pensive Okorocha Appears In Court, Remanded

By Adesina Soyoye

After the drama of the absurd which played out during his arrest at his Maitama residence, Abuja, last week, former Imo State Governor, and Senator Representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, was on Monday, May 30, 2022, arraigned before a Federal High Court, Abuja.

Looking pensive, and wearing a flowing Agbada, and a brown cap, his appearance was stripped of his usual liveliness. There was no laughter. No broad smiles. No waving of hands to associates and admirers.

Security was tight.

Okorocha’s arraignment followed his unconventional arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, after he refused the Commission’s many invitations to him, and made a scene when Operatives went to his residence to arrest him.

He refused to open the door and follow them and, instead, holed up inside, praying and making calls. He said there was no Warrant of arrest or a Court order which would warrant his arrest by the EFCC.

After a more-than six hour stalemate, the EFCC Operatives entered the house through the roof and arrested him. He has been in the EFCC custody since then, and was arraigned Monday before the Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Okorocha, a Presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, APC, is, along with an APC chieftain and ally, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, and five Companies,  facing a-17- count charge which borders on alleged stealing and laundering of the sum of N2.9billion belonging to Imo State.

When the charges were read to him, he pleaded not guilty, and so did the others arraigned with him.

He was, however refused bail on Monday, as Justice Ekwo ordered that he and Chinenye be remanded in the EFCC Custody till Tuesday when the request for bail will be argued.

Ekwo has set the dates for trial against June 6,7,8,9.

Okorocha may, likely, be granted bail on Tuesday. The Judge had threatened to strike out the case at the last hearing because the EFCC was unable to produce him in Court.

Okorocha was the Governor of the State for eight years – 2011-2019. His tenure goes down in the State as the most controversial since its creation.

His successor, the Rt. Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, bowing to the cries and yearnings of the people, set up a couple of Judicial Commissions and Panels to look into some of his activities as a Governor.

On Ihedioha’s sudden exit from office after a Supreme Court ruling, his successor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, sustained Ihedioha’s decisions.

The  Imo State Government has, since, started implementing a number of the recommendations of the Judicial Panels.