This may not be the best of the moments for family members of the immediate past governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFFC, begins investigation of their numerous property and investments.
It would be recalled that Okorocha had gone to court months ago to bar anti graft agencies and police not to search or engage in investigation against his person and family members.
But, a new twist in the development occurred on Tuesday when operatives of the EFCC stormed some of the investments allegedly owned by the family members to put them under lock and key for investigations.
Apart from the East High School and Academy a red mark of the anti graft body warned people to keep off as it is under investigation, Okorocha’s pet project in the educational sector, Rochas Foundation College built at the government owned IBC quarters, Orji, near Owerri has been sealed.
East High Academy, according to reliable sources, belongs to the first daughter of Okorocha who is married to Uche Nwosu, the candidate who carried AA flag for the governorship race in 2019 election.
On the list of property the EFCC also clampdown are the All- In- One Furniture Warehouse shop, multi- billion Estate on Naze-Aba road called Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, and Market Square Supermarket. The red mark of the EFCC appeared on the outfits signaling a seal on public usage by the owners and visitors.
Trumpeta learnt that the invasion of EFCC and sealing of the property has sent shivers down the spines of the former governor who has seized to appear in the public.
It was gathered that since EFCC commenced the overt operation, Okorocha, wife, daughters and in-laws have gone into hiding for unknown reasons even as uncomfirmed reports have it that they may be guests to the commission.
At the Wednesday’s plenary session in the Senate Okorocha who represents Orlu zone, was conspicuously missing fuelling speculations that he may have gone underground to seek a means of settling the EFCC challenges.
Okorocha’s absence at the plenary session coincided with the screaming of Ministerial nominee from Imo, Emeka Nwajiuba who was among those President Buhari submitted their names to the National Assembly for clearance. No information was given over his whereabout and reason for absence in such plenary.
Trumpeta can also reveal that since the EFCC investigation of their property commenced, nothing has been heard from the former governor’s son in-law, Nwosu. Nwosu who is married to Uloma was former Deputy Chief of Staff and lands commissioner 2011- 2015, before he became Chief of Staff culminating in his becoming the adopted candidate for 2019 governorship of Imo State.
The sealing of East High College is also said to have sent Nwosu, the wife and mother in-law, Nneoma Nkechi Okroocha into a kind of hibernation to either avoid arrest or possibly settle the issue. A source close to the family revealed that Nwosu and wife may likely be answering EFCC questions considering the investigation of the East High Academy, same for Nneoma in connection to All-In- One shop and the Estate plaza. It was learnt that agents of the anti graft body had dropped messages requesting the various managements to appear at their Enugu zonal office in connection to the matter.
EFCC on Tuesday sealed the East High Academy and East High College, both private primary and secondary schools located at new Owerri. It was gathered that Mrs Nwosu had been EFCC guest and the school belongs to other multi-million property belonging to the Okorocha family under investigation.
Similarly, student of Rochas Foundation College Orji, were barred from the complex. The operatives gained entrance to bar the students from the school. The school alongside other property were sealed by the EFCC.
Meanwhile Imo State Government has reacted, denying involvement. According to a released “Our attention has been drawn to the press release by former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, on the sealing by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), of various properties belonging to his family, which, according to him, include; Rochas Foundation College and the East High College and Academy, both in Owerri, among other investments.
In the said release, the former governor had accused His Excellency, Governor Emeka Ihedioha CON, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, of conniving with the Commission to witch-hunt him and his family.
Ordinarily we would not have dignified such a statement with a response, but to guard against his recourse to deliberate lies and misrepresentation of facts, we are obliged to make this rejoinder to dissociate His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON and his government of any complicity in the operations of the anti-graft agency.
For emphasis, this administration is founded on the respect for rule of law and due process and therefore would not stealthily petition or engage in a clandestine war against ex governor and family. It would be recalled that Governor Ihedioha has since set up committees that are looking into the various actions undertaken by the past.
It is also necessary to remind that the EFCC had, before the inauguration of this administration, begun a probe of the former governor over issues of misappropriation of the state’s funds, including; Bailout funds, Paris Club Refund, Local Government Fund and other financial crimes. It is also on record that the Commission had made public the freezing of a bank account, with a balance of over N5 billion, operated by the past administration as a result of fraudulent activities. Could Governor Ihedioha have influenced this action?
We wish to advise ex-governor Okorocha and members of his family, that rather than engage in attempts to divert attention from this probe by EFCC, to dutifully assist the Commission in their investigations, with a view to clearing themselves of the weighty allegations of malfeasance and misappropriations levelled against them by the anti-graft agency and leave the state government out of their travails”.
