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From all indications, former Governor of Imo State and incumbent senator of the National Assembly, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, will be participating in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election, May 30, from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, refused to admit him to a bail over a cocktail of fraud and money laundering allegations.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, instead, ordered Okorocha, through his lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, to put the anti-graft agency on notice.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olanipekun had, in an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/28/2022, prayed the court to grant Okorocha bail in liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice filed on May 25. The ex-parte motion was dated and filed May 26.
But Justice Ekwo held that since the matter would be coming up on Monday, May 30, making an order for the release of the lawmaker on bail would be unnecessary.
The senior lawyer also hinted that he had also filed a motion on notice, seeking for his client’s bail.
The judge, who fixed May 30 for the hearing of the motions, directed the lawyer to put the EFCC on notice.
NAN reports that Ekwo had, on the last adjourned date, given the anti-corruption commission May 30 as the last time the matter would be adjourned following the EFCC’s complaint that it had been unable to serve Okorocha despite several efforts.
The judge had threatened to strike out the case if the EFCC failed to produce the senator on the next adjourned date, after two adjournments for his arraignment.
Operatives of the EFCC were said to have invaded Okorocha’s residence on Wednesday following his refusal to honour the anti-corruption commission’s invitation after he was alleged to have jumped the administrative bail earlier granted to him.
Okorocha was whisked away after some hours and remanded at the EFCC’s custody.
Okorocha, an APC presidential aspirant, is standing trial alongside others on allegations bordering on money laundering while he served as governor of Imo.
About 25 APC presidential aspirants had submitted their expression of interest and nomination forms worth N100m each, including; Rochas Okorocha himself, Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, Rotimi Amaechi, Godswill Akpabio, Ogbonnaya Onu, Ibikunle Amosu, Tunde Bakare, Governors Ben Ayade, Dave Umahi, Kayode Fayemi, Yahaya Bello and Mohammed Badaru Abubakar as well as Ahmed Sani Yerima.
Others are; Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Ken Nnamani, Ajayi Borroffice, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, Tein Jack-Rich,
Nicholas Nwagbo, Dimeji Bankole, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Ikeobasi Molukwu and Timipre Sylva who has withdrawn from the race.
Okorocha and his comrades-in-crime were expected to be arraigned before Justice Ekwo on Monday, May 30./(NAN)/SHARE THIS