The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned Rochas Okorocha, former Imo State governor and presidential hopeful before a federal high court in Abuja.
Okorocha, who currently represents Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly, was arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on Monday in the nation’s capital.
He is being tried on a 17-count charge to the tune of N2.9 billion filed against him by the anti-graft agency.
Okorocha was arrested by the EFCC on Tuesday.
On Friday, the federal high court refused to admit him to a bail.
Justice Ekwo, instead, ordered Okorocha, through his lawyer, Ola Olanipekun, SAN, to put the anti-graft agency on notice.
Olanipekun had, in an ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CR/28/2022, prayed the court to grant Okorocha bail on liberal terms pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice filed on May 25.
The ex-parte motion was dated and filed May 26.
But Justice Ekwo held that since the matter would be coming up today, Monday, May 30, making an order for the release of the lawmaker on bail would be unnecessary.
The senior lawyer also hinted that he had also filed a motion on notice, seeking for his client’s bail.
The judge, who fixed May 30 for the hearing of the motions, directed the lawyer to put the EFCC on notice.