EFCC recovers N2.7bn from Okorocha, returns funds to Imo govt -

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has recovered N2.7 billion from former Imo State Governor, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, and returned the funds to the Imo State Government for payment of salaries.

This is just as the anti-graft commission vowed to commence the prosecution of the ex-governor upon conclusion of its investigations.

According to EFCC, the N2.7 billion was part of the N7.9 billion recovered from various bank accounts and assets belonging to Okorocha.

The Zonal Head of EFCC Port Harcourt, Mr. Imam Usman, stated this Thursday while briefing the media on the commission’s activities at mid-year.

He noted that aside the cash recovered from the senator, who is representing Imo West, some properties valued at several billions were equally forfeited to the Federal Government.

“Furthermore, upon my deployment to this zone, the investigation of corruption allegation against the former Governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha was transferred from the Enugu Zone to Port Harcourt for further investigation.

“Within the period in review, the Commission succeeded in freezing about N7.9billion in different accounts. Out of this, N2.7billion was released to the Imo state government to enable it pay staff salaries and pensions.

“Also, properties worth billions of naira recovered in the course of the investigation have been forfeited to the Federal Government,”Usman said.

He said that out of the N2.7 billion returned to the state, the administration of Emeka Ihedioha got N2.5 billion, while the present administration of Sen. Hope Uzodinma got N514 million.

“Only last month, N514million was further released to the incumbent administration of the state to enable it meet its obligations to workers.

“All the money released to Imo State were the monies recovered from the former Governor of the state, N7.9 billion.

“The money was released in batches. In the government of Emeka Ihedioha, we released excess of 2.5 billion for salaries and pensions. They were money recovered for the state and they have to go back to the state.

“When the Emeka left and Uzodinma came, there was still remnants of the money. It was excess of N2 billion. And we were able to release 514 million just last month to the state. Because excess of N1.8 billion is incumbent in court process because some contractors when to court and wanted some refund.

“The court process is lingering, so we still have excess of N1.8 billion that has not been released because of the court process.”