The former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, appeared before the Federal High Court in Abuja, today, Monday, to face the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The 17 count charges had earlier been filed by the Commission against the Senator in January and included allegations of the theft and embezzlement of nearly N3 billion while the latter held the gubernatorial office.
The charges were read by the Commission’s lawyer, Gbolahan Latona to the Senator who also asked the court to set a date for Okorocha’s trial. However, the Senator’s legal team countered the motion and led by the defendant’s main lawyer, Okey Amaechi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) reminded the court of a pending application related to the Senator.
He also directed the Court’s attention towards the raid launched against the Senator’s Abuja compound last week Tuesday and argued that any delay in granting his client bail could devastate Mr. Okorocha’s presidential aspirations as his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was set to screen presidential aspirants for its primaries on Sunday.
As a result, the presiding judge adjourned the hearing for Mr. Okorocha’s bail application and actualization, as well as all the other related cases to Tuesday, May 31st.
Thus, the Senator would remain under the custody of the EFCC officials until that date.
