Anthony Iwuoma
The Senator, representing Imo West in the National Assembly and former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has denied his arrest by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday.
The former governor claimed that he was merely invited and not arrested.
Okorocha was picked up from his private office in Abuja on Tuesday, a development the EFCC Head of Media, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed.
However, in a statement signed by Sam Onwuemeodo, the former governor’s media aide, Okorocha stated that the EFCC is only investigating his activities during his tenure as governor of the South-east state due to several petitions written against him.
“We have been inundated with calls by media houses and concerned Nigerians and beyond, trying to confirm the reported invitation of Senator Rochas Okorocha by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, later today, being April 13, 2021, the statement read.
“The truth is that Okorocha left as the governor of Imo State on May 28, 2019. And shortly after his exit as governor, Imo State Government wrote petitions upon petitions against him.
“The EFCC investigated the petitions and has been in various courts of the land with Okorocha to that effect.
“And if the EFCC has decided to invite Okorocha for clarifications on the matters already in courts, especially with a new Chairman at the helm of affairs at the Commission, there is nothing wrong with that.”
“The matters between EFCC and Okorocha over his governorship in Imo have been pendent in various courts of the land.
“At the end of the day, we would know whether the Commission will be withdrawing the cases in courts, or would continue with the cases already in courts.
“But to us, the Commission is doing its job and should be given the needed cooperation. And Okorocha being a law-abiding citizen, would always cooperate with the Commission over the matters in courts. EFCC is not a slaughterhouse, but a very responsible institution and should be seen as such.
“We have no reason to complain about the invitation of today, which Okorocha honoured as a patriotic and responsible Nigerian.
“As we stated earlier, the Commission didn’t invite Okorocha today, for the first time.”