Court Quashes Corruption Charges Against Ex-Imo Gov Okorocha
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July 14, (THEWILL) – A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja has dismissed charges of corruption filed against Senator Rochas Okorocha by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had charged Okorocha before the court over alleged corruption and abuse of office when he was Governor of Imo State between 2011 and 2019.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, by Justice Yusuf Halilu, the court noted that the anti-graft agency had filed a similar charge against Okorocha at the Federal High Court
Justice Halilu described the EFCC’s charges of fraud and abuse of office against Okorocha as an abuse of the judicial process.
The Court cautioned the anti-graft agency, urging it to be a respecter of the law.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had, on February 6, 2023, discharged Senator Okorocha of N2.9 billion fraud charges preferred against him by the EFCC.
The EFCC had alleged that Okorocha, along with other defendants, conspired and diverted funds to the tune of N2.9 billion belonging to Imo State.
But Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling in February, struck out the EFCC’s suit for being in contravention of Section 105 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which gives the Honourable Attorney-General (HAGF) of the Federation the power to recall a case.
