The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday charged Senator Rochas Okorocha with allegations he conspired with others to steal N2.9 billion while in office as governor.
The commission filed a 17-count charge at the Federal High Court in Abuja, according to court documents.
The charges come just as Okorocha declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.
Listed as defendants in the case asides Okorocha are Anyim Nyerere, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
The former governor’s co-accused, Mr Nyerere, was the APC governorship candidate in the 2015 Abia State election. He is a commissioner at the National Pension Commission.
The EFCC alleges that the stolen funds were diverted between October 2014 and February 2016 from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account.
Timeline of the alleged diversions are as follows:
- February 11, 2014: N67,500,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited
- August 28, 2014: N486,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited
- October 14, 2014: N900,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Naphtali International Limited
- August 4, 2015: N279,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Naphtali International Limited
- February 10, 2016: N243,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Consolid Projects Consulting Limited
- February 10, 2016: N200,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Consolid Projects Consulting Limited
- February 10, 2016: N243,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Pramif International Limited
- February 11, 2016: N243,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited
- February 12, 2016: 243,000,000 – conspiracy between Okorocha, Nyerere, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
