Oshiomhole, APC Behind EFCC’s Plan To Arrest, Detain Me – Okorocha Claims

The Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, and the party of instigating the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to arrest him.

Governor Okorocha revealed this in two separate fundamental rights enforcement suits marked FHC/ABJ/CS/474/19 and FHC/ABJ/CS/475/19 and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He further stated that the commission has been called on to arrest and detain him as soon as he hands over as Governor on May 29.

The outgoing Governor stated that he has received no fewer than 25 invitations from the anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies “in the purported investigation of projects executed by the state government in a bid to find some materials to justify their conclusion that he is guilty of corrupt practices.”

He also claimed that the plot of the APC leaders had been “expanded to include a reign of terror against the applicant’s political, business associates and family members including his wife and children.”

Okorocha noted that his political, business associates and family members allegedly targeted by the commission include, Uloma Rochas, Uju Rochas, Uchechi Rochas, Ahamefula Rochas, Amen Rochas, Amamchi Rochas, Uzoma Anwukah and Uche Nwosu.

While speaking on his innocence, Okorocha stated that he did not commit any offense “to warrant the incessant threats of arrest, detention, the harassment, and terror being unleashed upon him and his family.”

He called on the court to restrain EFCC and other agencies from harassing, intimidating and arresting him and his family members.

He is seeking an order to restrain the Attorney General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, the EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offenses Commission, and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

He accused his enemies in the party of waging war against due to the belief that he played a role in the EFCC’s alleged arrest of Oshiomhole last year.

The outgoing Governor stated that Oshiomhole and the party leaders are behind the decision of INEC to withhold his certificate of return which ought to be presented to him after winning the election to represent the Imo West Senatorial District in the Senate.

He stated that the disagreement started when he supported another candidate for the position of the National Chairman of APC against Oshiomhole.

An affidavit filed in support of the suit read in part, “The applicant had supported a candidate for the position of National Chairman of the APC other than the current incumbent, Mr Adams Oshiomhole and by reason of various events that occurred at the time, including the detention of Mr Adams Oshiomhole by the EFCC on allegations of corruption, it was assumed that the applicant was a party to that incident.”

“Some of the supporters of Adams Oshiomhole at the time are currently very influential in the Federal Government of Nigeria which is controlled by the APC.”

“These individuals, including the said current national chairman have decided to carry out a vendetta and revenge against the applicant, including instigating the respondents against the applicant upon their spurious conclusion without evidence that the applicant is guilty of corrupt practices as the governor of Imo State.”

“The respondents, proceeding from this position that the applicant is guilty unless proved innocent, between 2017 and now, have extended not less than 25 invitations to the applicant in purported investigation of projects executed by the state government in a bid to find some materials to justify their conclusion that he is guilty of corrupt practices.”

“This witch-hunt is clearly politically motivated, baseless, and has been designed only to discredit and humiliate the applicant in a bid to decimate him politically.”

DSS, in its response to the suit, through a counter- affidavits filed on its behalf by G.O.A. Agbadua, denied the allegation of it planning to arrest either the governor or his family members.

DSS stated that it is not aware of the plan to arrest the Imo State Governor.

Its counter-affidavit read in part, “The 3rd respondent (DSS) did not meet with the Independent National Electoral Commission concerning the applicant.”

“The 3rd respondent has not invited the applicant or any member of his family and/or staff for investigation.”

The matter has been slated for hearing before Justice Taiwo Taiwo on May 22.