Reason3752023
Rochas Anayo Okorocha
Rochas Okorocha is a two-term former Governor of Imo State (2011-2019) and former Senator for Imo West (2019-2023) who faced an EFCC 17-count criminal charge alleging the diversion of approximately N2.9bn in Imo State funds between 2014 and 2016. He was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Abuja on 30 May 2022 before Justice Inyang Ekwo and pleaded not guilty; the charge was struck out on 6 February 2023 under Section 105(3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act after the Attorney-General of the Federation directed EFCC to forward the case file for review. A parallel suit at the FCT High Court was dismissed by Justice Yusuf Halilu on 14 July 2023 as an abuse of process. Separate civil forfeiture proceedings against properties linked to Okorocha, his wife and the Rochas Foundation remain ongoing, and the broader EFCC assessment of N7.9bn in traced funds and assets is the basis on which over N5.7bn was reportedly returned to Imo State in 2020.
Sources
- SOURCE-01Channels Television (2022-05-30)
- Channels Television, 30 May 2022www.channelstv.com/2022/05/30/breaking-efcc-arraigns-rochas-okorocha-over-alleged-n2-9bn-fraud/
- SOURCE-02Channels Television (2022-05-31)
- Channels Television, 31 May 2022www.channelstv.com/2022/05/31/breaking-court-grants-okorocha-bail-in-alleged-n2-9bn-fraud-case/
- SOURCE-03Vanguard (2022-05-30)
- Vanguard, 30 May 2022www.vanguardngr.com/2022/05/alleged-n2-9bn-fraud-efcc-produces-ex-imo-gov-okorocha-in-court-for-trial/
- SOURCE-04TheCable (2022-05-30)
- TheCable, 30 May 2022www.thecable.ng/breaking-efcc-brings-okorocha-to-court-for-arraignment-over-n2-9bn-fraud/
- SOURCE-05Premium Times (2023-02-06)
- Premium Times, 6 February 2023www.premiumtimesng.com/news/580241-court-frees-okorocha-others-of-n2-9-billion-fraud-charges.html
- SOURCE-06Punch (2023-02-06)
- Punch, 6 February 2023punchng.com/court-dismisses-efccs-charge-against-okorocha-faults-process/
- SOURCE-07Guardian Nigeria (2023-02-06)
- Guardian Nigeria, 6 February 2023guardian.ng/news/court-discharges-okorocha-of-alleged-n2-9bn-corruption-charges/
- SOURCE-08SaharaReporters (2023-07-14)
- SaharaReporters, 14 July 2023saharareporters.com/2023/07/14/breaking-nigerian-court-dismisses-charges-anti-corruption-body-efcc-against-imo-ex
- SOURCE-09THISDAY (2023-07-14)
- THISDAY, 14 July 2023www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/07/14/again-court-frees-okorocha-of-corruption-charges
- SOURCE-10Channels Television (2023-07-14)
- Channels Television, 14 July 2023www.channelstv.com/2023/07/14/court-dismisses-efccs-case-against-okorocha/
- SOURCE-11Vanguard (2021-04)
- Vanguard (2021-04)www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/efcc-arrests-ex-gov-okorocha-over-alleged-n7-9bn-cash-in-banks/
- SOURCE-12Vanguard (2020-06)
- Vanguard (2020-06)www.vanguardngr.com/2020/06/efcc-returns-n5-7bn-recovered-from-okorocha-to-imo-govt/
- SOURCE-13SaharaReporters (2019-07-25)
- SaharaReporters, 25 July 2019saharareporters.com/2019/07/25/efcc-seizes-six-multimillion-naira-properties-traced-okorocha-wife-daughter
- SOURCE-14Premium Times (2022-02-24)
- Premium Times, 24 February 2022www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/513636-alleged-corruption-court-orders-interim-forfeiture-of-ex-governor-okorochas-property.html
- SOURCE-15TheCable (2021-02)
- TheCable (2021-02)www.thecable.ng/court-orders-interim-forfeiture-of-properties-illegally-acquired-by-okorocha
- SOURCE-16Guardian Nigeria (2022-05-24)
- Guardian Nigeria, 24 May 2022guardian.ng/news/efcc-operatives-storm-okorochas-abuja-residence-arrest-him/
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