Okorocha, family to forfeit properties worth several billions —EFCC

The immediate past Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha is on the verge of losing properties worth several billions of naira alongside his wife and daughter, as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained orders for the interim forfeiture of the assets.

The Head, Enugu Zonal Office of the commission, Mr. Usman Imam, revealed this on Wednesday in Enugu while briefing newsmen on the activities of the commission in the last eight months.

According to Imam, the EFCC also obtained a similar order on a property traced to a former aide to Okorocha, Mr. Paschal Obi, and the former governor’s daughter.

He also revealed that the commission had established prima facie cases against the suspects, adding that the commission would like to know how the Rochas Foundation and “other accomplices” acquired and/or converted some of the property for personal use.

The properties covered by the interim forfeiture order include a 16-block 96-flat structure and an eight-bungalow multimillion naira estate, hotel, two schools, shopping plaza, supermarket, hospital and four vehicles.

The EFCC zonal chief further disclosed that while the hospital was traced to Obi, the remaining property were traced to the former governor and his family, including his wife and daughter.

“We hope to get permanent forfeiture orders on the property in order to return them to the people of the state,” he said, adding that all the facilities, including the schools, would remain functional as the commission would not like to shut them down for the sake of the students and other users.

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