Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha and his family not to sell or alienate
any of the properties that were subject of an interim order of the court
pending the conclusion of investigation by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The Court directed the Applicants to, on or before Tuesday, September
17, 2019 deposed to an affidavit of undertaking and adjourned to
September 27, 2019 for report.
The judge gave the Consequential Order while vacating the July 25, 2019
Interim Order, forfeiting five properties owned by Okorocha and his
family to the Federal Government. The properties are: Rochas Foundation
College, Owerri, All in 1 Shopping Mall, East High Academy, East High
College and Royal Spring Palm Hotel & Apartments.
The Registered Trustees of Rochas Foundation College, All-in Limited,
Royal Spring Palm Apartments Limited, Registered Trustees of Women of
Divine Destiny Initiative and Uluoma Okorocha Nwosu had challenged the
order on August 8, through 5 separate motion on notice praying the Court
to vacate the interim forfeiture order.
The Commission in response filed Counter Affidavits to the motions of
the Applicants on 19 August, 2019.
On 21 August, 2019 when the case came up for hearing, the Applicants’
informed the court that they were served with the Commission’s Counter
Affidavits and asked for an adjournment which was granted by court.
When the case came up on September 9, 2019 for hearing of the Motions,
the Applicants filed Further Affidavits and in reply to these Further
Affidavits, the Commission file Counter Affidavits to the Applicants’
Further Affidavit and served them same day.
However, Applicants’ Counsel Okey Amechi, SAN informed Justice Omotosho
that they were just served and the court adjourned the case to
Wednesday, September 11, 2019 for hearing.
After the Court sitting, the Applicants’ served the Commission with 2nd
Further Affidavit at precisely 11:21 am. On Thursday, September12,
2019, Counsel to the Commission informed the Court that the Applicants
had served him with their 2ndFurther Affidavits and that he would need
time to respond.The Court gave the Commission till Friday, September,13,
2019 to file its Counter Affidavits, failing which it will make a
consequential order. This was after counsel to the applicants had drawn
the attention of the court to the nature of the properties, one of which
is a school which was scheduled to resume in September.
On Friday, September 13, 2019 when the matter came up, Counsel to the
Commission informed the Court that he is yet to file its Counter
Affidavits and the Court issued the consequential order vis-à-vis the
nature of the properties involved.
The Commission is studying the consequential order of court.