* …action witchhunt- former Gov
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday
night sealed the Rochas Foundation School, the East High College
and other property belonging to the immediate past governor of Imo
State and his family members.
Although the Commission is yet to give reasons for the action,
which has been generating controversy in the state, it was gathered
that the night raid on the property by EFCC officials may not be
unconnected with series of petitions written against the former
governor by the state government, which among other things accused
the former governor of converting government property to personal
use.
When The Nation visited the College and other property, there
was a bold sign with the inscription “under investigation keep off
by EFCC” written on the gates.
But Okorocha in his reaction accused the EFCC of collaborating
with the PDP-led State government to witchhunt him.
The former governor who is currently the Senator representing
Imo West said that the closure of the Rochas Foundation College and
other businesses and property belonging to him and his family
members without a formal invitation was a confirmation that the
Commission is out to intimidate and harass him.
His Media Adviser in a statement, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, noted that
“what is obvious is that the PDP government in the State with Chief
Emeka Ihedioha as governor and all the PDP Chieftains who felt
politically displaced from 2011 to 2019 by Rochas Okorocha had come
together to launch war against Rochas and his family. And APC
members. And that was why they needed INEC to declare their
Candidate winner even when he didn’t meet the requirement.
Unfortunately, they have instigated certain agencies like EFCC into
taking some hasty actions following flood of petitions by them.
“Our concern about the action of the EFCC is the approach. There
was no prior invitation to the Managements or Proprietors of the
Colleges and other establishments sealed by the Commission as
expected before such action. To the best of our knowledge too,
these Colleges have not been under the investigation of the
Commission. We have had the feeling that the Sealing of the
Colleges or any other structure as the case may be, would have been
based on the outcome of their investigation in which the management
or the proprietors would have also been interrogated”.
It continued that, on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, as at about 6am,
Agents of the Economic & Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, from
its Office in Enugu with Hilux buses loaded with armed military and
mobile Policemen stormed the Rochas Foundation College Owerri, with
more than three thousand students, and most of them, orphans, and
sealed the College.
“The Commission also sealed the East High College and Academy,
Owerri with Uloma Rochas Nwosu as the proprietor, among other
investments belonging to the former governor and family which the
Commission Sealed.
“The action of EFCC with the presence of heavily Armed Military
and Police Mobile Personnel frightened the students and most of
them began to cry. It was a sympathetic scenario.
“What is obvious is that the PDP government in the State with
Chief Emeka Ihedioha as governor and all the PDP Chieftains who
felt politically displaced from 2011 to 2019 by Rochas Okorocha had
come together to launch war against Rochas and his family. And APC
members. And that was why they needed INEC to declare their
Candidate winner even when he didn’t meet the requirement.
Unfortunately, they have instigated certain agencies like EFCC into
taking some hasty actions following flood of petitions by them.
“Our concern about the action of the EFCC is the approach. There
was no prior invitation to the Managements or Proprietors of the
Colleges and other establishments sealed by the Commission as
expected before such action. To the best of our knowledge too,
these Colleges have not been under the investigation of the
Commission. We have had the feeling that the Sealing of the
Colleges or any other structure as the case maybe, would have been
based on the outcome of their investigation in which the
managements or the proprietors would have also been
interrogated”.
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