Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has explained why its operatives laid siege to the Abuja residence of the former Imo State governor and All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Chief Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday.
The EFCC said it was constrained to invade Okorocha’s home following his refusal to honour an invitation it extended to it.
On Tuesday, the anti-graft agency’s operative had besieged the former Imo governor’s Abuja residence located at 3, Nyase close, off Ontario crescent, Maitama, Abuja, to effect his arrest.
But Okorocha, who is the incumbent Senator representing Imo west, declined and insisted that he would not submit himself to the EFCC operatives without a warrant of arrest.
EFCC’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said in a statement that the invasion of the former Imo governor’s residence was not unconnected to its current case against him.
The EFCC statement read, “The move followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
“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 until May 30th, 2022, had warned that it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter”.
“In the circumstances, the commission is left with no option than to effect the arrest of senator Okorocha and bring him to trial.”