…. Lawyer condemns anti graft action says its unconstitutional
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday May 24, 2022, gave reasons behind their alleged invasion of Senator Rochas Okorocha building in Maitama, Abuja to effect his arrest.
According to a statement from the agency’s spokesperson,Wilson Uwujaren, , The move followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the Commission.
EFCC had on January 24, 2022 filed a 17-count criminal charge bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9billion against Okorocha.
The case was assigned to Honourable Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja but attempts to arraign Senator Okorocha were twice stalled owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes.
At the last adjourned date, March 28th, 2022, Justice Ekwo before adjourning until May 30th, 2022, had warned that it was “the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter”.
In the circumstances, the Commission is left with no option than to effect the arrest of Senator Okorocha and bring him to trial.
Meanwhile, Ola Olanipekun (SAN), counsel for the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has condemned the action of the Agency for laying siege to the senator’s house on Tuesday.
It was reported that the EFCC finally arrested the former Governor of Imo State after a long siege to his Maitama residence in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Tuesday.
In a statement made available shortly after the arrest, Olanipekun decried the siege, stating that the EFCC presented no warrant of arrest.
He said, “Before now, there were issues on the grounds that there were extant court orders restraining arrest, restraining interrogation.
“There are court orders made by the Federal High Court in Abuja and Port Harcourt restraining interrogation on this matter.
“So, what I have sought to do is to ask, were there letters for the invitation? There are none.
“Were there any warrant for arrest? There is none. Are there court processes to be served? There are none. In fact, processes of court are served by court officials. Who are the bailiffs of the court?”
He noted that the siege was unnecessary as Okorocha wasn’t caught committing an offence.
