A federal high court in Abuja has refused to grant bail to
Rochas Okorocha, former Imo state governor.
Okorocha had filed an ex-parte application praying the court
to release him on bail on the ground that he is a presidential aspirant on the
platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and that his political ambition
would be jeopardised if not granted bail.
The presidential primary of the ruling party has been fixed
for Sunday, May 29 and Monday, May 30.
Ruling on the bail application on Friday, Inyang Ekwo, the
presiding judge, refused to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) to release him.
Instead, the judge ordered Okorocha to put the federal
government on notice to appear in court to defend his detention.
The senator representing Imo West was forcefully arrested on
Tuesday when operatives of the EFCC broke into his Abuja home after a
seven-hour siege.
The commission had said the arrest was necessitated by
Okorocha’s refusal to attend his trial.
The EFCC had, on January 31, filed a 17-count charge against
the former Imo governor before a federal high court in Abuja.
According to the EFCC, Okorocha allegedly conspired with
others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and five
companies to steal N2.9 billion in public funds.
Aside from Okorocha, other defendants listed are Anyim
Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects
Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited,
and Legend World Concepts Limited.
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