The former Governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha , has pleaded his innocence before a Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations levelled at him by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission for misappropriating N2.9bn during his tenure as Governor .
Okorocha was hit with 17-counts, as he was accused of collaborating with one Anyim Inyere , to divert N2.9 billion from Imo State government House Accounts and that of Imo State Local Government Joint accounts to private companies.
Okorocha denied the accusations , lawyering up with four Senior Advocates of Nigeria comprising Okey Amaechi, Solomon Umor, Ola Olanipekun and Kehinde Ogunwumiju to defend him .
The prosecuting counsel, Gbolahan Latona , requested an adjournment from the presiding judge to enable him put together his witnesses .
He disclosed that 15 witnesses have been arranged to testify against the All Progressive Congress APC presidential aspirant and that most of the witnesses are outside the court’s jurisdiction because of the peculiar nature of the charge.
Okorocha’s counsel, Okey Amaechi, told the court that he had filed an application for the bail of his client and had also served the same on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC lawyer sought an adjournment to June 1 for arguments on bail, 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.
Justice Inyang Ekwo subsequently ordered Okorocha’s further detention till May 31 when his bail application would be argued.
#IMOSTATE #TIWA #JONATHAN #MUSLIMMUSLIM #NORTH
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