EFCC: Sen. Rochas lost bid to recover confiscating properties
EFCC: Sen. Rochas loose bid to recover confiscating properties.
The past Governor of Imo State Senator Rochas Okorocha has again lost the bid to recover his properties in various parts of the country.
While in court today, Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to grant an order of interim injunction sought by former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFFCC and Imo State government to stop them from further interfering and confiscating his properties located in various parts of the country.
According to Justice Mohammed, who fixed August 24 for the first hearing from EFCC and Imo State moved the motion filed by Okorocha and said categorically that it cannot be heard during court vacation.
Okorocha on Wednesday in Abuja had asked high court to issue a restraining order against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC and Imo State government.
Okorocha had complained 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.
His motion on notice for the sought court order was filed by his counsel Oba Maduabuchi.
However, the request was opposed by EFCC and Imo State government on the ground that the court has no jurisdiction to hear Okorocha’s suit.
EFCC and Imo state government are contending that the suit was 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, adding 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, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/558/2020 filed on May 28, 2020, have EFCC as the 1st respondent, the 2nd to 48th respondents are the Attorney General (AG) of Imo and members of the seven panels set up to probe previous administrations in the state.
Some of the properties listed in the motion include: Eastern Palm University Ogboko; Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments, Akachi Road, Owerri, Imo; Imo Broadcasting Corporation Staff Quarters, Orji or Rochas Foundation College Orji; Public Building Plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout and Magistrate Quarters, Orlu Road /Corporate Office including market square and Kilimanjaro.
Others are Plot 5 Naze Residential Layout and all property contained on pages 226 to 272 of the government white paper on the Florence Duruoha Igwe judicial Commission of inquiry into land Administration in Imo State from June 2006 to May 2019.
