The planned arraignment of former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha at the Federal High Court in Abuja was stalled following his absence in court on Tuesday.
Okorocha, who is the first defendant in the 17-count corruption charges levelled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was absent in court and was also not represented by any legal practitioner.
The EFCC said the senator conspired with others to steal N2.9 billion of public funds.
When the matter was mentioned in court, counsel to the EFCC, Cosmos Ugwu, told the presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo that the Senator currently representing Imo West has been evading the serving of the criminal charges on him as required by law.
Ugwu, while seeking for an adjournment, said the security operatives around the first defendant have made it impossible for the court official to serve the senator in person.
Meanwhile, the six other defendants billed to be arraigned along with the former Imo governor were in court, including their lawyers.
The defendants include Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
Justice Ekwo, however, adjourned the matter to March 28 to enable the EFCC to serve Okorocha with the charge and also take his plea.
