Uzodinma using state powers to pull down Okorocha, Imo court orders forfeiture of Okorocha’s property

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State may be stabilizing his impasse with former Governor Rochas Okorocha using the instruments of the state government to pull down the senator. Accordingly, Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri, in a judgment ordered final forfeiture of all properties of former Governor Rochas Okorocha gazette in Imo State White Paper on recovery of lands and properties belonging to the state.

The presiding Judge, Justice Fred Njamanze, in his judgement, stated that Senator Rochas Okorocha failed to give concrete and verifiable reasons why a final and absolute forfeiture order should not be given in favour of the Imo State government.

The Judge insisted that Okorocha did not convince the court why the forfeiture should not be made absolute and final.

Accordingly, Okorocha will be losing all property on pages 226 to 272 of the white paper and forfeiting the same to the Imo State Government.

Justice Fred Nkemanze, on February 26, 2021, issued an interim order of forfeiture, mandating Senator Okorocha to approach the court to defend why a final and absolute order of forfeiture should not be given over the properties,  following an application brought before the court  by Louis Alozie, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, on behalf of the Imo State government.

It was highlighted that the properties to be forfeited include:
“Eastern Palm University, Ogboko;

Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments.

IBC staff quarters are said to have been illegally acquired for the purpose of Rochas Foundation College, among others.

Okorocha’s dispute with Uzodinma has been going on since Uzodinma became governor of the state after the Supreme Court judgement. They are both members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Okorocha was once arrested by the Imo State Police Command for entering a sealed property in the state.