Ex-Imo Governor, Okorocha Forfeits Abuja Property To Federal Govt

Former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha has temporarily forfeited one of his Abuja properties to the Federal Government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) made the disclosure in a statement signed by its spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, on Thursday.

Uwujaren stated that the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of the Abuja property after showing the court that the property was illegally acquired.

The EFCC spokesman gave the full address of the property as Plot 1032 & 1033 Cadastral Zone AO3, Takum Close, Off Michika Street, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Abuja.

He claimed that the former governor acquired the property through illegal activities and is said to be suspected to be proceeds of alleged corruption.

Uwujaren said EFCC investigation revealed that sometime in 2018, Abtisal Global Ltd and Archivisual Solution Ltd, “companies in which Okorocha is believed to have interest, received N222, 000,000 from the Imo State Government Treasury to develop and improve on the said property.”

He added that the agency’s application for the interim forfeiture was anchored on section 44(2) of the Nigerian Constitution and section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 2006.

The trial judge, Emeka Nweti, granted the order of interim forfeiture.

He also directed that the order of interim forfeiture be published in the national dailies, to alert anyone with interest in the property to show cause why it should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The judge then adjourned until April 13, 2022, for consideration of the motion for final forfeiture of the property.