After over nine hours of siege, armed operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have finally broken into the Abuja residence of APC presidential aspirant, Rochas Okorocha with shots and teargas fired into the house.
Okorocha who is a serving senator has had a running battle with the anti-graft agency which has been investigating him over alleged diversion of funds.
Officials of the commission arrived at his Maitama residence on Tuesday morning to effect his arrest. but the senator locked himself in, refusing to come out. The stand-off continued with the siege running into nine hours, as the operatives refused to leave.
At about 6.30pm, the armed operatives began a forceful break into the residence, shooting into the air to disperse the crowds.
Okorocha was finally arrested and taken away by the EFCC as the anti-graft agency insists the former governor of Imo State has a case to answer over corruption allegations.
It said Okorocha had declined to honour several invitations sent to him, which necessitated its seige on his residence on Tuesday.
The EFCC says their action followed the refusal of the former governor to honour invitations after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
Also read: Senator Okorocha laments alleged Imo Govt. sponsored persecution of family
According to the anti-graft agency, on January 24, 2022, it filed a 17-count criminal charge bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9 billion against Okorocha.
It says the charge is currently pending before justice inyang ekwo of the federal high court and its attempts to arraign senator Okorocha have twice been unsuccessful as the ex-governor has repeatedly evaded service of processes.
The EFCC says the judge had at the last adjourned date warned that it would be “the last adjournment he would grant in this matter
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
