I became poorer as governor – Rochas Okorocha

Senator Rochas Okorocha, has said he became poorer after spending eight years as governor of Imo state.

The lawmaker representing Imo West Senatorial District in the Senate, said this on a Channels TV programme, Sunday Politics.

According to the former governor, people seem to have forgotten so easily that he was a successful person before becoming governor in 2011.

Okorocha also dared anyone to come forth with evidence that he is corrupt and mismanaged Imo State funds while in office.

He said; “I challenge anybody to prove that I acquired any property with any government fund. I think people have forgotten that I was Rochas before becoming the governor of Imo State; I think they have forgotten completely.

If anything, becoming a governor made me even poorer than what I was in the past. I don’t know whether I acquired any property here in Abuja, there is none.”

The lawmaker said the hotel linked to him belongs to his wife which is also a source for their foundation. Okorocha wondered how he could have stolen the “meager” monthly allocation the State receives from the Federal Government.

Speaking about his ordeal after he was called by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the senator said he was invited by the commission based on a report written by others.

The invitation was based on a statement made by other people, but I said to them that I have not come to honour your invitation because the matter was already in court and once a matter is in court, we cannot talk about it.

Imo state government has taken me to court on the same subject matter, and we are at the Federal High Court in Abuja, so I told EFCC I cannot be called, so I was arrested, and I made my statement” he said.

EFCC arrests ex-Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) has arrested Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State.

EFCC Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to The Punch on Tuesday that Okorocha was arrested in Abuja.

Uwujaren, however, declined to comment on the reason for the arrest of the lawmaker representing Imo West in the senate.

When asked, the EFCC official said; “It is true, he (Okorocha) was arrested today in Abuja but we are not giving details.”

Okorocha, who governed Imo from 2011 to 2019, had been accused by the state government of various corrupt practices including diversion of public funds, although he has denied any wrongdoing.