IBRAHIM Magu, Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed that the outgoing governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, is under investigation.

However, Magu, who is currently in the United Kingdom on an official function, declined to give further details about the ongoing investigation so as not to jeopardise the process.

“Definitely”, was Magu’s response when Channels Television asked whether Okorocha was being investigated.

“Of course, we are doing a couple of checks and investigations here and there. We are investigating almost everybody,” Magu added.

He further explained that what was being reported on social media was different from the facts available to the EFCC hence people should disregard the false reports making the rounds. It is only when the EFCC had gotten to a certain stage in the investigation would the public be notified of the development, Magu explained.

In March this year, ThePunch reported that EFCC arrested the acting Accountant General of Imo State, Uzoho Casmir, on allegations that he laundered the sum of N1.050bn for his principal, Okorocha, through an unnamed new generation bank.

Casmir had worked as a director of finance in Okorocha’s government before he was made accountant-general.

The EFCC suspects that the money was meant to be used for the purposes of vote buying as Casmir was said to have withdrawn the money in three tranches on Tuesday and Thursday leading up to the governorship election.

Okorocha did not contest the governorship election having completed his two-year tenure. However, his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu was on the ballot as the candidate of the Action Alliance (AA). The governor instead supported his son-in-law, abandoning Hope Uzodimma, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to which Okorocha belongs.

Both Nwosu and Uzodimma were defeated at the polls by Emeka Ihedioha, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Okorocha himself contested and won a seat to represent Imo West Senatorial District in the National Assembly. However, he is yet to be issued with a certificate of return without which he could not assume his position.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Okorocha’s electoral victory was declared under duress and would not be recognised.