The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Wednesday, said the commission marked properties belonging to immediate past governor of Imo state, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and his family members because he failed to honour the commission’s invitation for questioning on the said properties.
EFCC acting spokesperson Mr Tony Orildae in a press statement, Wednesday in Abuja, said the commission: “At no time “raided” nor “harassed” anyone in the course of marking the properties as its operatives, in line with international best practices, informed the occupants of the facilities in good time, before taking the action.”
The statement read in part: “The EFCC wishes to state that it’s Enugu Zonal Office on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, traced and marked some properties traced to the former Imo State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, as well as those of his family members and cronies.
“The marking of the properties which is a fall-out of our painstaking investigation, is as a result of the failure of the suspects to honour the commission’s invitation for questioning on the propriety of their acquisition.
“The properties include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, former Principal Secretary to ex-governor Okorocha; Market Square Super Market; All in One Shop; and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting Corporation now hosting Rochas Foundation College owned by Senator Okoroacha.”
He said other properties are: “East High Academy and East High College, owned by Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu; Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, a 16 block cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million Naira estate traced to Okorocha’s wife.”
Orilade further stated, “It is also pertinent to state that the commission has pictorial and video evidences which put a lie to the claim that Rochas Foundation College was allegedly raided by the EFCC while in session. This could not be so because the school was not in session and could not have had its students harassed as was fed some online media.”
He urged, “antics of some unscrupulous politicians and fraudsters, who seek to distract the commission from holding them accountable for their nefarious activities,” be disregarded.
