EFFC files N2.9bn fraud charges against Okorocha

Hours after declaring his presidential intentions for 2023, the former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has been slammed with a N2.9 billion fraud suit by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

In the 17-count charge filed before the Abuja division of the Federal High Court, Okorocha was charged alongside Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited and Legend World Concepts Limited.

In the charge, the parties were alleged to have conspired to steal N2.9 billion public funds between October 2014 and February 2016.

The charge specifically alleged that the funds were transferred from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account with the following details: “on February 11, 2014, Okorocha did conspired with Nyerere, and Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited to transfer the sum of N67, 500, 000.

“Between August 28, 2014 to February 2016; the various sums of money was transferred through a conspiracy between Okorocha and Nyerere as follows: N486,000,000; N900, 000,000; N279, 000, 000; N243, 000, 000; N200, 000, 000; N243, 000, 000; N200, 000, 000; N243, 000,000; N243, 000, 000 and N243, 000, 000.”

According to EFCC, the money was transferred from the Imo State Joint Local Government Project account to the following companies, including Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited; Naphtali International Limited; Consolid Projects Consulting Limited; Pramif International Limited; Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited and Legend World Concepts Limited.

The case, however, has not been assigned to a judge for a hearing.