Sen. Rochas Okorocha, one of the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) presidential candidates, appeared before the party’s seven-man 2023 Presidential Screening Committee on Tuesday night.
Okorocha, the immediate past Governor of Imo, represents Imo West in the Senate, according to the Nigerian News Agency (NAN).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had him in custody for an alleged N2.9 billion fraud case.
He was, however, granted bail by a Federal High Court in Abuja early Tuesday, with a bail bond of N500 million and one surety bond of the same amount.
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Following his ordeal at the hands of the EFCC, the possibility of Okorocha appearing before the APC’s Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led presidential screening committee for screening became a topic of political debate.
After dismissing the EFCC’s counter-affidavit, Trial Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the former Imo governor bail.
The EFCC had urged the court to keep Okorocha in custody through his lawyer, Mr Gbolahan Latona, claiming that he was a flight risk.
Okorocha, according to the prosecution, not only violated the administrative bail he had been granted, but also made himself inaccessible, resulting in his forcible arrest on May 24.
He told the court that the former governor of Imo, who was charged with 17 counts of money laundering, had the ability to stymie some of the court’s proposed witnesses.
Mr Solomon Umoh, SAN, the defendant’s lawyer, assured the court that his client would be present for his trial.
The defence lawyer insisted that his client, as a responsible citizen and presidential candidate, would not act in any way that would jeopardise the court’s sanctity.
According to NAN, Okorocha was the final candidate to be screened by the APC presidential primary on Tuesday night.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Godswill Akpabio, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Senate President Ahmad Lawan were among the other candidates screened by the committee.
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Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dimeji Bankole and oil magnate Tein Jack were among those who were screened.
On Monday, the committee screened 12 presidential candidates, including Pastor Tunde Bakare and Sen. Bola Tinubu, a party leader and former governor of Lagos State for two terms.
On Monday, former Governor of Ogun, Gov. Abubakar Badaru of Jigawa, Sen. Ibikunle Amosun, former Governor of Zamfara, Sani Yerima, and Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, were all screened.
Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, former Minister of State for Education; Pastor Felix Nicholas, the only female presidential candidate; Mrs Uju Ken-Ohanenye, and Sen. Ajayi Boroffice are among the others.
On Monday, former Senate President Ken Nnamani and Ebonyi Governor David Umahi were also screened.
The APC’s presidential primary convention has been scheduled for June 6 and 8 at Eagle Square in Abuja.
