Court Rejects Okorocha’s Request To Stop Properties’ Takeover

A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha for an interim injunction stopping the state government from taking over his properties.

At the resumed hearing on Wednesday in a suit by the ex-governor, his lawyer, Oba Maduabuchi (SAN) informed the court that his client’s property had been marked by agents of the state.

The lawyer argued, among others, that unless a preservative order was made by the court against the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) and the Imo State government, Okorocha would be prejudiced.

He prayed the court, orally, for an interim restraining injunction against the state government and the EFCC.

The EFCC and Imo State government objected to Maduabuchi’s request, arguing that the court had no jurisdiction to hear Okorocha’s suit and grant his prayers during the court’s ongoing vacation.

They added that the case was not in the category of those that could be heard during the court’s vacation.

They also averred that Okorocha did not apply for and obtain a fiat from the court’s Chief Judge to hear the case during the vacation.

The EFCC and the Imo State government contended that Okorocha failed to comply with Order 46, Rule 5 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedures Rule (2019) in filing his fresh motion.

Ruling, Justice Ahmed Mohammed held that the bone of contention was whether or not the court could make an order when the issue of jurisdiction was still pending.