THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC),says it has traced and marked some properties traced to the former governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha as well as those of his family members and cronies.
The properties were marked on Tuesday July 23, 2019 by the Enugu Zonal Office of EFCC, a statement by the acting Head of Media and Publicity at EFCC, Tony Orilade said.
Okorocha governed Imo between 2011 and 2019 and is currently representing Imo West Senatorial District in the Senate.
Orilade said the marking of the properties was a fall-out of our painstaking investigation the Commission, adding that “it was as a result of the failure of the suspects to honour the Commission’s invitation for questioning on the propriety of their acquisition.”
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The properties include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, former Principal Secretary to ex-governor Okorocha; Market Square Super Market; All in One Shop; and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting Corporation now hosting Rochas Foundation College owned by Senator Okoroacha.
Other properties are: East High Academy and East High College, owned by Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu; Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, a 16 block cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million Naira estate traced to Okorocha’s wife.
The statement reiterated that the Commission at no time “raided” nor “harassed” anyone in the course of marking the properties as its operatives, in line with international best practices, informed the occupants of the facilities in good time, before taking the action.
It added that the anti-corruption agency also has pictorial and video evidences which put a lie to the claim that Rochas Foundation College was allegedly raided by the EFCC while in session.
“This could not be so because the school was not in session and could not have had its students harassed as was fed some online media,” Orilade said.
“The Commission would ordinarily not bother with any allegation coming from the camp of Senator Okorocha, having noted his penchant for frivolities and propaganda; but this refutal has become pertinent in other to clear doubts especially in these days of fake news.
“We urge all well meaning Nigerians to disregard the antics of some unscrupulous politicians and fraudsters who seek to distract the Commission from holding them accountable for their nefarious activities.”
The Acting Chairman of EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, in May, had confirmed that the commission is investigating the ex-governor for alleged mismanagement of funds while in office.