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 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 witch-hunt 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, Mr Sam Onwuemeodo, in a statement 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 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.”