Owelle Rochas Okorocha after the judgment. Photo: Ifeoma Nwovu/Radio Nigeria
A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has dismissed a fraud-related charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against former Imo state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
Delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Yusuf Halilu held that the charge filed by the EFCC was an “abuse of court process “, having been litigated previously by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Justice Halilu reasoned that the present charge was based on the “same outcome of investigation” upon which the EFCC had filed the N2.9 billion fraud suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against Senator Okorocha.
According to Justice Halilu, it was “unmeritorious” for the court to enter judgment on a charge that had already been dismissed by the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Reacting, Senator Okorocha expressed satisfaction, saying the court had exonerated him on three consecutive times of any wrongdoing.
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on February 6 discharged and acquitted Senator Okorocha of the N2.9 billion fraud charge filed against him by the EFCC.
Reporting by Ifeoma Nwovu; Editing by Daniel Adejo and Tony Okerafor