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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, arrested a former governor of Imo State and presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Rochas Okorocha, after laying siege on his residence for over five hours.
The EFCC operatives forcefully gained access into Okorocha’s No 3, Nyase Close, off Ontario Crescent, Maitama, Abuja residence, arrested him around 6.48pm and whisked him away.
His arrest, despite his initial resistance to submit himself to the agents of the anti-graft agency without a warrant, came after gunshots were fired by the policemen on the premises.
Security operatives had to fire shots and teargas to disperse the crowd, mostly supporters of the senator.
It was gathered that when the armed security operatives broke into Okorocha’s mansion, he and his family members all laid on the floor to apparently escape being hit by stray bullets.
“Please help! Call for my rescue. Come and help me, my Lord, My God. Come and rescue me,” Okorocha said in trembling voice.
Okorocha was later seen in a video where he said it was his last appearance for the night.
“EFCC is here with some gunmen; they have broken all my bullet proof doors. This is my last appearance. They are coming in to shoot,” the senator said briefly before taking cover.
While addressing journalists before his arrest, Okorocha wondered why the security agents would hold him hostage.
But EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said the move followed the alleged refusal of the former governor to honour several invitations extended to him after jumping the administrative bail earlier granted him by the commission.
Uwujaren recalled that the EFCC had on January 24, 2022, filed a 17-count charge bordering on diversion of public funds and properties to the tune of N2.9billion against Okorocha.
He said the case was assigned to Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja but attempts to arraign Okorocha was twice stalled owing to the absence of the ex-governor who evaded service of processes.