Anthony Iwuoma
The Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to strike out the N2 billion money laundering case against a former governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, due to the failure of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to serve him the proceses.
Okorocha was arrested in April 2021, over alleged corruption while in office and was later granted administrative bail.
The EFCC charged the former governor before the Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo but has failed to arraign him ever since.
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At the resumed proceedings on Monday, the anti-corruption agency failed to arraign Okorocha and his co-defendants.
The EFCC’s counsel, Cosmos Ugwu, for the second time, told the court that the commission had failed in all efforts to locate Okorocha, currently representing Imo West in the senate, and serve him with the charges as required by the law.
He, therefore, applied for another adjournment to enable him serve the charges on Okorocha, a request the judge frowned at, reminding the counsel that it was the same excuse that was given on February 22 when Okorocha and his co-defendants should have taken their pleas.
However, though he granted the request for the second adjournment, Ekwo threatened to throw out the case if the EFCC fails to show seriousness by the next adjourned date.
“Let me place on record, that this is the second time this flimsy excuse is being made to justify the absence of the 1st defendant (Okorocha) in court to take his plea,” the judge said.
“As the prosecutor, you must demonstrate seriousness in the discharge of your duties. This is the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter.
“If on the adjourned date, you come up with the same flimsy excuses, I shall have no option but to strike out the charges,” Mr Ekwo warned, before adjourning the suit until May 30,” he ruled.
However, though he granted the request for the second adjournment, Ekwo threatened to throw out the case if the EFCC fails to show seriousness by the next adjourned date.
“Let me place on record, that this is the second time this flimsy excuse is being made to justify the absence of the 1st defendant (Okorocha) in court to take his plea,” the judge said.
“As the prosecutor, you must demonstrate seriousness in the discharge of your duties. This is the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter.
“If on the adjourned date, you come up with the same flimsy excuses, I shall have no option but to strike out the charges,” Mr Ekwo warned, before adjourning the suit until May 30,” he ruled.
