A federal high court in Abuja has threatened to strike out charges of misappropriation of N2.9 billion against a former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the threat after the federal government for the second time failed to serve the 17-count criminal charge against Okorocha and six others over the offences.
The prosecuting counsel, Cosmos Ugwu, had pleaded with the court for an adjournment to enable the prosecution to serve Okorocha.
But the judge reminded him that a similar application was made on February 22, after the prosecution again filed to proceed with the trial.
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The judge ruled that, “Let me place on record, that this is the second time this flimsy excuse is being made to justify the absence of the first 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.”
The EFCC had on January 31, filed a 17-count charge against Okorocha and six others over money laundering.
The anti-graft commission claimed that the former two-term governor, who served from 2011 to 2019 before being elected senator for Imo West, had made it difficult to reach him.
Other defendants in the matter, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited and Legend World Concepts Limited, did not object to the adjournment. The case has been fixed for May 30.
