The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has cleared the way for Rochas Okorocha, the former governor of Imo State, to be formally arraigned by serving criminal charges on his person at the detention facility.
On Sunday evening, Okorocha was allegedly provided a copy of the charge in preparation for his appearance in court on Monday, May 30 to enter his plea.
According to BEVIBESHUB, Okorocha, who is now a Senator representing Imo State in the Senate, was forced to personally sign the charge in order to pass the legal obstacle for the arraignment.
Our source learned that as soon as the former governor confirmed receipt of the allegation, he was given permission to call roughly five attorneys to discuss the situation and choose the next course of action.
The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had been missing from court twice for arraignment, claiming that the charge had not been personally served on him as required by law.
However, the anti-graft agency said via its counsel in the Federal High Court in Abuja that Okorocha failed to pick up phone calls from the agency after being granted administrative release, and that text messages issued to him to report in court were not honored.
Mr Cosmos Ugwu, the EFCC's attorney, was unable for comment on the recent development, but a source claimed it was a positive development for the agency.
"All we want to do is get him to court on May 30 for his arraignment, and we've gotten a lot closer to that goal with the service of charge on him."
"You will recall that the EFCC's problem was to serve him, and we have now overcome that obstacle." I can assure you that Okorocha will be summoned to court. "We'll assist him in getting to court," the person stated.
EFCC officials detained Okorocha in his Abuja apartment on Tuesday as part of measures to secure his attendance in court on MONDAY.
On Monday, March 28, Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja threatened to dismiss the N2.9 billion money laundering accusations against Okorocha if the Federal Government failed to make him appear in court once again.
Following the Federal Government's failure to serve charges on Okorocha as required by law, the judge threatened to dismiss the accusations.
The Federal Government told Justice Ekwo on March 28 for the second time, through its counsel, Mr Cosmos Ugwu, that he had not been able to visit Okorocha and serve him with the allegations.
On behalf of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, A.O Ikota signed the Federal Government's accusations against Okorocha on January 24, 2022.
In the N2.9 billion money laundering criminal allegations, Okorocha, who is presently a Senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly, will stand trial with six others.
The senator is facing 17 counts of illicit diversion of public funds and properties, according to the federal government.
