Why we arrested Rochas Okorocha – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday confirmed the arrest of former governor of Imo state and Senator representing Imo West, Senator Rochas Okorocha.

Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren confirmed the arrest on Tuesday, saying the senator is under custody following several invitations that he failed to honour.

Okorocha was arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at about 4 P.M. Tuesday at his Unity House private office in Abuja.

The former governor was arrested after a five-hour standoff with EFCC operatives who trailed him to the location.

Our sources said the anti-graft agency had repeatedly invited the former governor to its Abuja headquarters in connection with multiple corruption allegations against him.

Details of the allegations against the senator are sketchy but our sources said they are related to suspected monumental graft during his eight-year reign as governor.

Since he left office as governor in 2019, Mr Okorocha has been having a running battle with his successor, Governor Hope Uzodinma, who accused him of mis-governance and corruption during his tenure. Both men are members of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC.

Uzodinma had accused his predecessor of fraudulently spending N106 billion on fictitious contracts.

The Justice Benjamin Iheka-led Commission of Inquiry on Contracts awarded between 2011 and 2019 in the state set up by Uzodinma indicted the former governor.

The commission submitted its report to the governor last year, indicting the Okorocha’s regime and saying it uncovered fraudulent contracts worth over N106 billion which the regime should be made to refund.

Uzodinma had said the commission’s investigation covered the award of contracts during the period of Okorocha’s administration from 2011 to 2019.

On February 21, the former governor was arrested by the police for unsealing a hotel owned by his wife but which was shut by the Imo State government. He was later released.

In November 2020, the EFCC’s zonal office in Enugu arraigned Lasberry Anyanwu, a former commissioner who served under Mr Okorocha. He was charged with stealing and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N180 million.