Hours after declaring for the 2023 presidential race, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed criminal charges against Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The anti-graft agency filed a 17-count charge against the former Imo State governor on Monday before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Okorocha is accused of conspiring with others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to syphon N2.9 billion public funds.
The other defendants are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
In April 2021, the EFCC arrested the former governor and grilled him for two days over alleged corruption.
Okorocha was Imo governor from 2011 to 2019.
He is accused by the Imo state government of various corrupt practices including diversion of public funds — although he has denied any wrongdoing.
Documents obtained showed how the former governor awarded 12 contracts worth N20 billion in violation of the public procurement act.
It was also reported how a government committee uncovered N112.8 billion “dubious debts” which various banks owed the state during Okorocha’s tenure.
