By CHARLES IWUOHA
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, with conspiring with others, including an All Progressives Congress (APC) politician and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion public funds.
EFCC filed the charges, totalling 17, on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja.
In addition to Okorocha, other defendants are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
The charges were filed about the same time Okorocha was declaring his intention to run for the office of the president in 2023.
Meanwhile, some invited guests and supporters of Okorocha’s 2023 presidential bid have expressed anger as they were locked out of the International Conference Centre (ICC) hall, Abuja, where the declaration took place.
Despite having tags and invitation cards to prove that they were invited for the occasion, they were still stopped by the security men at the gate.
Even journalists and staff of the Rochas Foundation were not spared the humiliation, as they were also denied entry to the programme that lasted less than an hour.
Some of the invited guests and supporters were seen complaining of how they were treated at the occasion.
It was also gathered that several supporters and professionals who were at the ICC for professional jobs have expressed displeasure over the incident.
Credit: Additional reports by Daily Independent.