A Federal High Court in Abuja has acquitted former Imo Governor Senator Rochas Okorocha and six others from a fraud charge of N3 billion brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, declared the charges to be invalid after considering objections raised by the defendants.
According to the ruling, the EFCC acted in contravention of the law when it ignored the Attorney General of the Federation’s (AGF) directive and proceeded with the criminal proceedings against Okorocha and the others. Justice Ekwo emphasized that all law enforcement and prosecuting agencies, including the EFCC, have a duty to abide by the AGF’s directives when deciding whether to prosecute a suspect.
The judge further stated that the EFCC’s failure to comply with the AGF’s instruction to submit the case file for review rendered the criminal proceedings against Okorocha and the others null and void. As a result, Justice Ekwo declared the proceedings invalid and acquitted the defendants, including Okorocha, Nyerere Chinyere, Naphtali International Ltd, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Ltd, Consolid Projects Consulting Ltd, Pramif International Ltd and Legend World Concepts Ltd.
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