Why Rochas Okorocha is still in detention

The reason why Rochas Okorocha is still in detention has a lot to do with the fact that the EFCC was carrying out an interrogative investigation.

Mr. Okorocha, the ex-governor of Imo State and serving senator was detained by EFCC over numerous corruption allegations on Tuesday the 13th of April, 2021.

About 24 hours after his arrest, the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, is still in the custody of the  Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Abuja.

It was reported that the former governor was arrested by the officers of the anti-corruption agency at about 4 p.m. on Tuesday at his Unity House private office in Abuja.

Familiar sources told this medium that the former governor was arrested after a five-hour war of words with EFCC operatives who traced him to the location.

The anti-graft agency had initially invited the former governor repeatedly to its Abuja headquarters in relation to the multiple corruption allegations leveled against him.

Mr. Rochas Okorocha, who is now the senator representing Imo West, reportedly refused to honor the invitation, this action infuriated detectives who planned out on how to get him.

The EFCC Continues with the Interrogation

On Wednesday the 14th of April,  Mr. Okorocha spent the night at the detention facility of the commission is located at Wuse 2, Abuja.

He has not been released because the EFCC operatives have been interrogating him since his arrest since Tuesday the 13th of April.

The interrogation continued that same Wednesday into the afternoon time and there was uncertainty as to when the questioning would end.

The Current Controversies

The details of all the allegations against the senator are limited but sources claim that the allegations are related to suspected enormous graft that occurred during his eight-year reign as governor of Imo State.

Since he left office as governor in 2019, Mr. Okorocha has been facing a serious battle with his successor, Governor Hope Uzodinma, who accused him of bad governance and corruption during his tenure. Both men are members of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC.

On February 21, the former governor was arrested by the police for unveiling a hotel owned by his wife. The hotel was then shut down by the Imo State government and Okorocha was released later on.

In November 2020, the EFCC’s zonal office in Enugu prosecuted Lasberry Anyanwu, a former commissioner who served under Mr. Okorocha. He was accused of stealing and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N180 million.

ALSO READ: EFCC Arrests Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha

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