Admin l Tuesday, August 10, 2021
OWERRI, Imo, Nigeria – Former Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha will now forfeit over 500 personal properties he corruptly acquired while he was a sitting governor in the state.
This is based on the ruling by Justice Fred Njemanze of an Imo State High Court. Justice Fred Njemanze who was sitting in Owerri ordered that the properties be forfeited to the state in the case between the Imo State Government and the former governor.
The suit marked HOW/M1191/2021 listed Attorney General of Imo State as plaintiff, while Mrs. Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, Incorporated Trustees of Rochas Foundation, Senator Rochas Anayo Okorocha were listed as Applicant and Respondents.
Ruling on the suit, Justice Njemanze ordered the final and absolute forfeiture of Royal Palm Springs Hotel and other properties said to belong to Senator Rochas Okorocha and other members of his family.
All the properties are contained on pages 226 to 272 of the Imo Government white paper report by a Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Recovery of Lands and other related matters.
The judge ruled that Okorocha failed to give concrete and verifiable reasons why a final and absolute forfeiture order should not be granted in favour of the Imo state government.