BREAKING: N2.9bn fraud: Ex-Imo Gov. Okorocha gets reprieve

Serving Senator Rochas Okorocha, who has been in EFCC custody for eight days and arraigned on May 30, is to enjoy a temporary freedom from today, a court in Abuja ruled on Tuesday.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court granted him bail in the sum of N500 million and a surety also in the sum of N500 million.

However, Okorocha will remain in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) custody until his bail conditions are met.

Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly, is being tried on a 17-count charge to the tune of N2.9 billion filed against him by the anti-graft agency.

He is also facing conspiracy with others, including a member of APC and five companies to steal from the Imo State coffers.

Okorocha, who was brought to court on May 30, 2022, had entered a not-guilty plea.

Persecondnews had reported that the EFCC had barricaded his residence in the Maitama area of Abuja in a bid to arrest him following his refusal to honour their invitations.

After about nine hours of siege and for resisting arrest, the operators broke into Okorocha’s expansive mansions and busted him.

While ruling on the bail application filed by Okorocha’s lawyers, Justice Ekwo

ordered that the surety must be a responsible citizen who has landed property in the like sum of the bail granted to the presidential aspirant.

Okorocha is also ordered to deposit his international passport at the court Registry with a warning not to travel outside the jurisdiction of the court without the court’s permission.

The judge directed the court’s Registry to inform the Nigeria Immigration Service that Okorocha’s international passport is in its custody.

While thanking the court for the bail granted, counsel to Okorocha, Mr Okey Amaechi (SAN) assured that he would meet the bail conditions.