Barrister Okey Anyikwa, counsel to the former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has condemned the interim forfeiture of an Abuja property belonging to his client to the Federal Government.
Recall that the Senator representing Imo West in the National Assembly temporarily forfeited the property on Plot 1032 & 1033 Cadastral Zone AO3, Takum Close, Off Michika Street, Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Abuja to the government on Thursday.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of the Abuja property after showing the court that the property was illegally acquired.
In a statement by the agency’s spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the former governor acquired the property through illegal activities and is said to be suspected to be proceeds of alleged corruption.
Uwujaren said EFCC investigation revealed that sometime in 2018, Abtisal Global Ltd and Archivisual Solution Ltd, “companies in which Okorocha is believed to have interest, received N222, 000,000 from the Imo State Government Treasury to develop and improve on the said property.”
But reacting to the development, Anyikwa claimed that the interim forfeiture was a clear witch hunt and political vendetta by detractors of the former governor.
The lawyer explained that the property worth over N15 billion was acquired in 2007 by Etha Venture, a company with limited liability.
He argued that the plot by the EFCC to seize the property was due to N220 million claimed to have been taken from the Imo State treasury to renovate the building.
He said: “We learnt that the EFCC went to confiscate a property belonging to Okorocha after they got an interim forfeiture order. Our investigation showed that the property was acquired by a company, Etcha Venture, a limited liability company in 2007, so it cannot be said that the property belongs to Okorocha entirely.
“EFCC is claiming that N220 million was used to renovate the building, but I am aware that the property was put to use as a hotel that has been funding the Rochas Foundation Colleges for over 20 years.
“In as much as the matter is subjudice, common logic shows that it is nothing but a political vendetta against the person of Okorocha,” he said.
