IMO: S’South gov, emir ensured my release from EFCC custody – Okorocha

FORMER Governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, has refuted the claim by the state government that he was released from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission based on health grounds.

Okorocha, who was arrested last week by the operatives of the EFCC, was released by the anti-graft commission after spending days in its custody.

Though his media adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, said the ex-governor was invited and not arrested.

But in a statement issued by the state government on the heels of Okorocha’s release, it was said that the former governor was released because of his health.

Reacting to the claim, in a statement issued his spokesperson, Sam Onwuemeodo, the Senator representing Imo West asked the state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, to stop fighting him.

The statement added that Uzodinma had usurped the position of the spokesperson of the EFCC in his case with the anti- graft commission.

Okorocha said contrary to the narrative being peddled by the Uzodinma administration, his release was ensured by a certain governor rom the South-South region, an emir and a former senator from the North

The statement read in part, “About 45 minutes after the officers of the EFCC had allowed Senator Rochas Okorocha to go home, after spending 48 hours with them, the governor of Imo State, Chief Hope Uzodimma, through his SSA on Print Media, Modestus Nwankpa, issued a press release giving reasons why the commission allowed Okorocha to go.

“The press release, to most people, was shocking and questionable, because EFCC has a spokesman and could not have authorised Governor Uzodimma to give reasons why it allowed one of its guests in the person of Okorocha to go home after he had spent 48 hours in their office.

“Governor Uzodimma in the press release also contradicted himself when he stated,

“Based on these, he was released on self-recognition pending when JUSUN calls off their strike and court resumes. By that time, his arraignment can then take place. So, in effect, his release today was circumstantial.”