15:T7ed,

Imo States governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, today took a swipe at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for delaying in arresting and prosecuting his immediate predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim, over alleged misappropriation of several billions of naira during the four years he governed the state.

Okorocha blasted the anti-graft agency while responding to Ohakim’s dismissal of the allegation during the Citizens Forum organised by the Good Governance Team led by Information Minister Labaran Maku in Owerri, the state capital. He said it was an unfortunate development in the fight against corruption for persons with clear evidence of corruption to be walking on streets freely while some other innocent Nigerians are constantly molested by the EFCC.

The governor who was visibly emotional said: “I am begging to get convinced that there is an iota of truth in the allegation considering that for the four years the previous governor governed has nothing on ground as evidence to show proper utilisation of 10 or 20 billion naira in the state. It is a shame that outside the uncompleted Ahiajioku building, Governor's Office, Governor's Lodge in Abuja and IROMA equipment which all the caterpillars are refurbished, there is nothing on earth to justify about N450b received by that administration and I stand to be corrected. If this nation and EFCC cannot fight that corruption by arresting Ohakim, they have lost the credibility of talking about corruption in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Let no Nigerian again be investigated or arrested for corruption if some whose cases are evidently clear are left to walk freely in the country. So, the issue of N62b is for the anti-graft agencies to investigate.”

The governor warned against further harassment of members of his cabinet and other innocent Nigerians by the EFCC while those involved in corrupt activities are shield from prosecution.

•Photo: Governor Okorocha.

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