Admin l Wednesday, August 11, 2021
ABUJA, Nigeria – Former Governor of Imo State and serving representing Imo West Senatorial district, Owelle Rochas Okorocha today lost his bid to stop Imo State Government from taking over 500 properties he illegally acquired while he was sitting governor of Imo State.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja refused to grant an order of interim injunction sought by Rochas Okorocha, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Imo State Government stopping them from further interfering and confiscating his properties located in various parts of the country.
Justice Mohammed held that granting the order in the matter will not be in the interest of justice. The judge however fixed August 24 to first hear a challenge by EFCC and Imo State but that the motion on notice filed by Okorocha cannot be heard during court vacation. The anti-graft agency and Imo State Government are contending that the suit is not the type that can be heard during court vacation.
They further argued that Okorocha did not meet the condition precedent for the matter to be heard during vacation and that the Fiat of the Chief Judge of the federal high court ought to be sought and obtained before such matter can be heard during vacation. EFCC and Imo State cited Order 46 Rule 5 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedures Rule 2019 allegedly breached by Okorocha while filing the fresh motion.
Okorocha had through his counsel, Chief Oba Maduabuchi, SAN prayed the court to issue a restraining order against the EFCC and Imo State Government from further interfering and confiscating his properties. He had told the court that his properties have been marked in several states for confiscation adding that unless the preservative order was issued against EFCC and Imo State, he would be prejudiced. But his request was vehemently opposed by the EFCC and Imo State government on the ground that the court has no jurisdiction to hear suit.
