Why EFCC violently arrested Okorocha at his Abuja residence  

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday explained the violent invasion of the residence of Senator Rochas Okorocha in Abuja and subsequently arrested him.

The EFCC in a statement in Abuja by the Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, titled: Why We Are At Okorocha’s Residence, indicated that the operation was a result pf the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission. The statement emphasized that the Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday arrived at the Maitama, Abuja home, of a former governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, to effect his arrest.

EFCC had on January 24, 2022, filed a 17-count criminal charge bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9 billion against Okorocha.

The case was assigned to Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja but attempts to arraign Senator Okorocha were twice stalled owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes.

At the last adjourned date, March 28th, 2022, Justice Ekwo, before adjourning to May 30th, 2022, warned: it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter.”

EFCC declared, therefore, that “in the circumstances, the Commission is left with no option than to effect the arrest of Senator Okorocha and bring him to trial.”

However, gun shots were said to be fired during the operation. The commission also restricted journalists from covering the arrest of the former governor, ordering journalists to depart from the residence. The officials were said have also spread teargas to force journalists out of the premises or vicinity of the operation.