By Deborah Hassan
365Daily – A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed Tuesday, May 31, 2022, to hear the bail application filed by Sen. Rochas Okorocha.
This is just as it ordered the accused to be remanded in EFCC custody.
This followed the arraignment of the ex-Imo State Governor, who is the current senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged N2.9bn money laundering charges.
Okorocha, a former Governor of Imo State, is being arraigned on 17 charges alongside Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited as 2nd to 7th defendants respectively before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
The first defendant, he was alleged to have laundered funds to the tune of N2.9 billion while serving as Governor of Imo. He pleaded not guilty.
Okorocha was forcefully arrested by the anti-graft agency at his Abuja residence on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, after being accused of refusing to stand trial.
On Friday, May 27, through his lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, he approached the court on a liberal terms but the request was turned down by the court.
But at his arraignment on Monday, May 30, 2022, Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed the next day to hear the bail application after his counsel, Okey Amaechi (SAN) informed the court that a bail application had been filed on behalf of his client, following his non-guilty plea.
The senator’s bail request is expected to be taken alongside his co-defendant, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye’s bail plea, who also filed the motion through his lawyer, Darlington Onwunzurumba.
After the matter was called, counsel for the EFCC, Gbolahan Latona, informed that a 17-count charge, dated January 24 and filed January 31, was before the court.
He prayed the court for the counts to be read to the defendants so they could take their plea.
Shortly after the counts were read to the duo, Okorocha and Chinenye pleaded not guilty.
Justice Ekwo also entered a non-guilty plea for 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th defendants, which are companies allegedly used in commiting the offence, after Onwunzurumba, who held the brief of Oba Maduabuchi (SAN) did not oppose it.
Latona, who asked for a trial date, told the court that majority of their witnesses were outside jurisdiction due to peculiarity of the case.
The judge then adjourned the matter until Nov. 7, Nov. 8, Nov. 9, Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 for trial commencement.
But Okorochas’ lawyer told the court that considering the adjourned dates, they planned to filed an application challenging the competence of the charge.
He also said that a motion for his client’s bail, dated and filed on May 26, was filed and served on the prosecution.
The counsel urged the court for the application to be taken.
Latona, who acknowledged receipt of the bail application, indicated his intention to oppose it.
Onwunzurumba, counsel for Chinenye (2nd defendant), also informed that he filed a bail application on behalf of his client.
The EFCC lawyer confirmed being served and said he would respond to the motion as well.
Amaechi, however, expressed his unhappiness over the manner Okorocha was arrested at his residence on May 24.
He alleged that without an arrest warrant, the operatives of the EFCC went to Okorochas’ residence, broke in, arrested him and locked him in their custody, having no regard to his status as a presidential aspirant.
The senior lawyer said against this backdrop, a bail application was filed.
Ekwo, who fixed May 31 (Tuesday) for the hearing of the bail application, ordered Okorocha and his co-defendant to be remanded in the EFCC’s custody pending the hearing and determination of the motions.
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