A federal high court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a lawsuit instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), against former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
Before striking out EFCC’s charges of fraud and abuse of office against Okorocha, Justice Yusuf Halilu described the lawsuit as an abuse of judicial process on the grounds.
Halilu noted that the EFCC had filed a similar charge at the Federal high court, which case was decided upon in favour of the former governor in December last year.
Recall that in May 2022, the EFCC had forcefully stormed Okorocha’s Maitama, Abuja home where he was arrested and subsequently taken into custody.
Despite resistance from the supporters of the former governor, the security operative fired tear gas to disperse them and effected the arrest.
Upon criticism regarding the manner with which the former governor was arrested, the anti-graft agency said it laid siege to the home of the former governor to arrest him, accusing him of jumping bail granted him by the commission.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, in a statement, said the move followed the refusal of Okorocha to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
According to Uwujaren, the EFCC had, on January 24, 2022, filed a 17-count criminal charge, bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9 billion, against Okorocha.
“The case was assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja; but attempts to arraign Okorocha was twice stalled, owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes.
“At the last adjourned date, March 28, 2022, Justice Ekwo, before adjourning until May 30, 2022, had warned, saying: “This is the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter.
“In the circumstances, the commission is left with no option than to effect the arrest of Okorocha and bring him to trial,” he stated.
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