Don’t divert attention from your probe, Ihedioha replies Okorocha

Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, has dissociated himself from the sealing of properties belonging to his predecessor, Rochas Okorocha, and his family members by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The governor was responding to a statement by Okorocha where he accused Ihedioha and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of conniving with the anti-graft commission to witch-hunt him and his family.

Okorocha had earlier on Wednesday said the EFCC sealed various properties including, Rochas Foundation College and the East High College and Academy, both in Owerri, among other investments.

However, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Chibuike Onyeukwu, the governor advised his predecessor to dutifully assist the commission in their investigations rather than engage in attempts to divert attention from the probe.

Speaking on Okorocha’s claim, he said: “Ordinarily we would not have dignified such a statement with a response, but to guard against his recourse to deliberate lies and misrepresentation of facts, we are obliged to make this rejoinder to dissociate His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON and his government of any complicity in the operations of the anti-graft agency.

READ ALSO: EFCC seals ex-Gov Okorocha, family members’ properties in Imo

“For emphasis, this administration is founded on the respect for rule of law and due process and therefore would not stealthily petition or engage in a clandestine war against ex governor and family.

“It would be recalled that Governor Ihedioha has since set up committees that are looking into the various actions undertaken by the past.

“It is also necessary to remind that the EFCC had, before the inauguration of this administration, begun a probe of the former governor over issues of misappropriation of the state’s funds, including; Bailout funds, Paris Club Refund, Local Government Fund and other financial crimes.

“It is also on record that the Commission had made public the freezing of a bank account, with a balance of over N5 billion, operated by the past administration as a result of fraudulent activities. Could Governor Ihedioha have influenced this action?

“There is no truth that the governor is witch-hunting Rochas Okorocha. They should show proves that the governor is doing so. The governor can’t deviate from his core mandate of rebuilding the state to witch-hunting anybody including Rochas Okorocha.

“If there is any witch-hunt it is his misgovernance of the state that is witch-hunting him. The governor is focused and determined on rebuilding the state.

“We wish to advise ex-governor Okorocha and members of his family, that rather than engage in attempts to divert attention from this probe by EFCC, to dutifully assist the Commission in their investigations, with a view to clearing themselves of the weighty allegations of malfeasance and misappropriations levelled against them by the anti-graft agency and leave the state government out of their travails”.

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