A Federal High Court in Abuja has threatened to throw out a 2.9B Naira money laundering charges brought against Senator Rochas Okorocha by the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, due to the prosecution’s inability to serve him as required by law
Okorocha who is currently a Senator, representing Imo West in the Senate, is to face trial alongside six others in the N2.9B money laundering criminal charges
The lawmaker, who is the 1st defendant in the charge is to be arraigned alongside Mr. Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Console Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
The former Governor is being put on trial by the Federal Government on 17-count charges involving criminal diversion of public funds and properties.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, the trial Judge, was displeased with the counsel to the Federal Government, Mrcouncil. Cosmos Ugwu, because of the repetition of his
inability to serve the defendants, which was the same excuse given in the last sitting of the trial, ordered the council to do his job or else the case will be thrown out if he is unable to do the needful by the next trial date
“Let me .place on record, that this is the second time this flimsy excuse is being made to justify the absence of the 1st defendant (Okorocha) in court to take his plea.
“As the prosecutor, you must demonstrate seriousness in the discharge of your duties. This is the last adjournment I shall grant in this matter.
“If on the adjourned date, you come up with the same flimsy excuses, I shall have no option than to strike out the charges,” the Judge warned”. Justice Ekwo warned
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This will make it the second time that the Mr. Ugwu will be telling the court that he has been unable to see the Senator and serve him with the charges he, however,, stated that he would make efforts and see to it that he serves the senator before the next adjournment date while he prayed the court to give him a little more time
He subsequently applied for another adjournment to enable him to do everything within his power to serve the court papers in line with the provisions of the law.
In a short ruling, the judge granted the request for the second adjournment and fixed May 30 for the prosecution to put his house in order.
The federal government’s charges against Okorocha dated January 24, 2022, were signed by one A.O Ikota on behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
