Rochas Okorocha, the former governor of Imo State, has been charged with fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a federal high court in Abuja.
Anyim Chinenye, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and five companies — Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited — were all charged alongside Okorocha.
The defendants appeared in court at 9:35 a.m. and pleaded not guilty to a 17-count money laundering charge.
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“I understand the charge levelled against me,” Okorocha said, “but I am not guilty, My Lord.”
Okorocha, who currently serves as the senator for Imo West, has declared his intention to run for president in 2023.
Last Tuesday, EFCC agents apprehended him.
The former governor was apprehended after allegedly refusing to appear in court.
He is accused by the EFCC of attempting to avoid service of the charge on purpose.
Following the defendants’ pleas, Okorocha’s lawyer, Okey Amaechi, petitioned the court for his client’s release on bail pending the outcome of the case.
He drew the court’s attention to the fact that his client had been detained without cause prior to the APC’s presidential primary.
“They went into the defendant’s house, broke into it, and arrested him in a gestapo manner,” he said, without a warrant of arrest from this court.
However, EFCC counsel Gbolahan Latona told the court that Okorocha raised some issues in his bail application to which he intends to respond.
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The defendants’ bail applications will be heard by Judge Inyang Ekwo on Tuesday.
He also ordered that they be held in EFCC custody until their bail request is decided.
Trial dates have been set for November 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
