The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), today arraigned the former Governor of Imo State and All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Aspirant, Owelle Rochas Okorocha before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, over N2.9 billion corruption allegations.
To this end, EFCC, slammed 17-counts on Okorocha, accusing him of diverting N2.9 billion from Imo State Government House Accounts and Imo State Local Government Joint accounts to private companies.
The Anti-Graft Agency alleged that Okorocha and one Anyim Inyerere perpetrated the alleged offence with the use of their private companies between 2014 and 2016 when he held sway as the Governor of Imo State.
Okorocha denied all the charges as he pleaded not guilty to all all the allegations of levied against him.
Representing the serving senator are four Senior Advocates of Nigeria comprising Okey Amaechi, Solomon Umor, Ola Olanipekun and Kehinde Ogunwumiju.
At the proceeding, Okorocha’s counsel, Amaechi, informed the court that he had filed an application for the bail of his client and had also served the same on EFCC.
Amaech’s bid to argue the bail application failed as EFCC counsel, Gbolahan Latona told the court that the commission would file a counter affidavit against the bail application, seeking adjournment to June 1 for arguments to argue the bail.
Latona told the court that 15 witnesses have been arranged to testify against Okorocha.
Regarding the bail application, Justice Ekwo ruled that he would take all the bail applications on May 31 and directed EFCC to endeavour to file its opposition within time.
He subsequently ordered Okorocha to be detained till May 31 when his bail application would be argued.