The Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, wishes to state that it’s Enugu Zonal
Office on Tuesday July 23, 2019 marked some properties traced to the former Imo
State governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha as well as those of his family members
and cronies.
The marking of
the properties which is a fall-out of our painstaking investigation, is as a
result of the failure of the suspects to honour the Commission’s invitation for
questioning on the propriety of their acquisition.
The properties
include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, former Principal
Secretary to ex-governor Okorocha; Market Square Super Market; All in One Shop;
and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting Corporation now hosting Rochas
Foundation College owned by Senator Okoroacha.
Other
properties are: East High Academy and East High College, owned by Okorocha’s
daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu; Royal Spring Palm Hotel and Apartment, a 16 block
cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million Naira estate traced to Okorocha’s
wife.
The Commission
at no time “raided” nor “harassed” anyone in the course of marking the
properties as its operatives, in line with international best practices, informed
the occupants of the facilities in good time, before taking the action.
It is also
pertinent to state that the Commission has pictorial and video evidences which
put a lie to the claim that Rochas Foundation College was allegedly raided by
the EFCC while in session. This could not be so because the school was not in
session and could not have had its students harassed as was fed some online
media.
The Commission
would ordinarily not bother with any allegation coming from the camp of Senator
Okorocha, having noted his penchant for frivolities and propaganda; but this
refutal has become pertinent in other to clear doubts especially in these days
of fake news.
We urge all
well meaning Nigerians to disregard the antics of some unscrupulous politicians
and fraudsters who seek to distract the Commission from holding them
accountable for their nefarious activities.