The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has explained the circumstances surrounding the manner in which properties belonging to former Imo State Governor and sitting Senator, Rochas Okorocha, and members of his family, were sealed.
However, in a reaction, Okorocha through his spokeman, Sam Onwuemeodo, appealed for the unsealing of the schools, which he said has orphans in them.
Though the Governor Emeka Ihedioha administration of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State has said it has no hand in Okorocha’s ordeal, his media aide pointed accusing fingers in that direction.
“… that was why they needed INEC to declare their candidate winner, even when he didn’t meet the requirement.
“Unfortunately, they have instigated certain agencies like EFCC into taking some hasty actions following floods of petitions by them”, he said.
He added, “To the best of our knowledge, too, these colleges have not been under the investigation of the Commission.
“We have had the feeling that the sealing off of the colleges or any other structure as the case maybe, would have been based on the outcome of their investigation in which the managements or the proprietors would have also been interrogated”.
Okorocha said no move was made to reach the owners and managers of the sealed outlets by EFCC before Tuesday’s action, adding that some of the properties pre-dated his two-term tenure as Governor
But in a statement, with multiple photos attached, the spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Mr. Tony Orilade, explained: “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, wishes to state that it’s Enugu Zonal Office on Tuesday July 23, 2019 traced and marked some properties traced to the former Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as well as those of his family members and cronies.
“The marking of the properties which is a fall-out of our painstaking investigation, is as a result of the failure of the suspects to honour the Commission’s invitation for questioning on the propriety of their acquisition.
“The properties include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, former Principal Secretary to ex-governor Okorocha; Market Square Super Market; All in One Shop; and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting Corporation now hosting Rochas Foundation College owned by Senator Okoroacha.
“Other properties are: East High Academy and East High College, owned by Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu; Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, a 16 block cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million Naira estate traced to Okorocha’s wife.
“The Commission at no time “raided” nor “harassed” anyone in the course of marking the properties as its operatives, in line with international best practices, informed the occupants of the facilities in good time, before taking the action.
“It is also pertinent to state that the Commission has pictorial and video evidences which put a lie to the claim that Rochas Foundation College was allegedly raided by the EFCC while in session. This could not be so because the school was not in session and could not have had its students harassed as was fed some online media.
“The Commission would ordinarily not bother with any allegation coming from the camp of Senator Okorocha, having noted his penchant for frivolities and propaganda; but this refutal has become pertinent in other to clear doubts especially in these days of fake news.
“We urge all well meaning Nigerians to disregard the antics of some unscrupulous politicians and fraudsters who seek to distract the Commission from holding them accountable for their nefarious activities”.
