EFCC arrests, detains Okorocha in Abuja

A former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has been arrested by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday evening

Nigerian NewsDirect gathered that the officials of the Commission laid siege to the former Governor’s private office at Nkwerre Street in Garki area of Abuja, he was arrested after a five-hour standoff with EFCC operatives who trailed him to the location.

It was gathered  that the anti-graft agency had repeatedly invited the former governor to its Abuja headquarters in connection with multiple corruption allegations against him but he declined to honour the invitation of the Commission.

Senator Okorocha’s spokesperson, Sam Onwuemeodo, could not be reached Tuesday evening to comment for this report.

When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the former governor is in his agency’s custody. He declined further comments when pressed for details of the allegations against the politician.

Since he left office as governor in 2019, Senator Okorocha has been having a running battle with his successor, Governor Hope Uzodinma, who accused him of misgovernance and corruption during his tenure. Both men are members of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC. On February 21, the former governor was arrested by the police for unsealing a hotel owned by his wife but which was shut by the Imo State government. He was later released.

In November 2020, the EFCC’s zonal office in Enugu arraigned Lasberry Anyanwu, a former commissioner who served under Mr Okorocha. He was charged with stealing and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of N180 million.