JUDGE ORDERS ROCHAS OKOROCHA TO FORFEIT PROPERTIES TO IMO STATE GOVERNMENT.
Written by Sarah Osanyinlusi on August 10, 2021
An Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri has ordered final forfeiture of all property of former Governor Rochas Okorocha to the state government.
The presiding judge, Justice Fred Njemanze, who was sitting as a vacation judge, in his judgment yesterday, said Okorocha failed to give concrete and verifiable reasons why a final and absolute forfeiture order should not be given in favour of the Imo State government.
The judge insisted that Okorocha did not convince the court why the forfeiture should not be made absolute and final.
The forfeited property are contained in Pages 226 to 272 of the Imo State Government White Paper report by a Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Recovery of Lands and other related matters.
Justice Njemanze, who noted that the suit filed against the state government by Okorocha’s counsel was not properly filed, maintained that the white paper gazette by the Imo State Government is a legal binding document.
The lead counsel to the former governor, Oba Maduabuchi however, held that they would appeal the judgment, maintaining that there could have been adoption of the matter, which was not held.
Editor: Okechukwu Eze
