The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has at last reluctantly begun what appears to be a manhunt for looted funds and appropriated public properties in Imo State by storming the variously suspected assets acquired through doubtful and fraudulent means by Ex-Governor Rochas Okorocha and his family.
Surprisingly, their invasion on properties acquired and built by Owelle Rochas Okorocha and members of his family while in office is coming two months after Okorocha lamented against their scourge and imminence.
While addressing his supporters at the Government House Chapel, shortly after his exit, Ex-Governor Okorocha, had predicted that his opponents are using EFCC officials to go after him and members of his family including his inlaws, Uche Nwosu and Anthony Anwuka.
However, two months after this lamentation, there was no indication that what Okorocha predicted was anywhere around the corner as he walks freely in Abuja.
Worried by EFCC reluctance to arrest Okorocha, his son-inlaws and members of his family and bring them to book, Imolites under the aegis of Town Union Presidents General and socio-cultural organizations, staged a protest, demanding immediate probe of Okorocha’s Rescue Mission Administration. They listed Concord Hotels, West Brook Hotels linked to Uche Nwosu, WODDI wellness Centre of Nkechi Okorocha, built on former Imo State Secretariat Annex, Orlu road, Reach FM Station, Multi Million Naira Farmers Market owned by Okorocha’s sister, Geraldine, the House of Freeda, Extravagance Mega Super Market, owned by Okorocha’s younger sister, Municipal Plaza of Nkechi Okorocha, Twitter Bites owned by Geraldine, Spibat Estate, Uche Nwosu’s mighty poultry farm beside Shoprite etc, as properties illegally, unlawfully and fraudulently acquired and used as conduit pipes through which Imo funds were either looted or laundered abroad.
They called for probe into JPROS financial sleaze, the N800 million paid to Geraldine annually for Christmas trees and decorations, recovery of N600 million purportedly spent on renovation of the now leaking roofs of Imo State Secretariat Owerri after the massive looting the long span roof, the N18 billion spent on SUBEB primary school blocks, N20 billion ISOPADEC fund allegedly diverted by Okorocha, Nsu Ceramic Industry, Card board packaging industries Owerre-Ebeiri all built by Mbakwe, the N2 billion on spent Akachi Tower, IROMA equipment, ITC vehicles, N40 billion on failed council general hospitals, N210 billion council funds etc. the list is in-exhaustive and too numerous to mention here.
They also cited Eastern Palm University Ogboko, Imo Legislative quarters, IBC Egbu road and Orji quarters, which were public properties appropriated by Okorocha, and the N96 billion Imo IGR for eight years, allegedly shared by Okorocha and family.
While the state government was reluctant to institute a high powered judicial commission of enquiry and probe the immediate past administration, group appropriated EFCC for help. The resent is the sealing of East High College, the Owerri plaza and the Orji IBC quarters by EFCC. Okorocha, therefore risks permanent forfeiture of these properties, if he does not prove how he raised money for them, as legitimately.
According to EFCC, they are presently under investigation.
