Okorocha Loses Again As Court Refuses To Stop Demolition Of His Properties In Imo

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday rejected an interim order requested by former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha to stop the state government from demolishing his properties in Owerri, the state capital.

The ruling comes barely two days after an Owerri High Court ordered the final forfeiture of over 500 choice properties linked to Okorocha and other members of his family.

At the hearing on Wednesday, Okorocha’s counsel, Oba Maduabuchi (SAN) told Justice Ahmed Mohammed that the properties of his client were being marked for confiscation and demolition.

He asked the court to grant an order of interim injunction sought by his client against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Imo Government stopping them from confiscating his properties.

The application, however, could not go through following a motion by the counsels to the Imo government and the EFCC challenging the jurisdiction of the court to sit on the matter during the vacation period.

In his judgment, Justice Mohammed refused to grant Okorocha’s application on the ground that he would first have to hear the motion challenging his jurisdiction to sit on the matter during vacation. He adjourned the matter till August 24.

“My simple response is that since making an order is akin to remotely assuming jurisdiction, the court cannot make the order as requested by the applicant.

“I adjourn this matter to August 24, 2021, to hear the applications challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter during vacation,” the judge said.

KanyiDaily had reported that Okorocha was arrested on April 13, and detained for two days over alleged N7.9 billion fraud perpetrated when he served as Imo state governor.