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Court denies Okorocha bail in alleged N2.9bn fraud case

by Our Reporter
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to grant a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, bail pending the determination of a suit he instituted against the Federal government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo declined the request by Okorocha to compel the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release him on bail.

In a brief ruling on the bail application filed by Okorocha, Justice Ekwo said he was not inclined to admit the applicant to bail.

Rather, the judge ordered Okorocha to put the Federal government on notice, to come and defend his detention.

The former governor had filed an ex-parte application in which he predicated his bail request on the ground that he was a presidential aspirant.

He informed the court that he is vying for the presidential ticket of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and his political ambition would be jeopardised unless he is granted bail.

A mild drama played out on Tuesday when a team of EFCC operatives stormed the residence of the former governor in the Maitama area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to arrest him.

The team, who insisted that Okorocha must submit himself for arrest or honour a long-standing invitation to their office, later barricaded the residence of the presidential aspirant.

According to them, none of the members of Okorocha’s family would be allowed to leave the compound until they produce the former governor.

Following a series of drama at the scene, gunshots were heard as the anti-graft agency’s team broke into Okorocha’s house and left with the presidential aspirant to their office in the nation’s capital.

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