CRIME & COURT

Okorocha to travel abroad for medicals amid corruption trial

Senator Rochas Okorocha can travel abroad for medical treatment despite his ongoing corruption trial, says a federal judge on Wednesday.

The former governor of Imo state is facing corruption charges before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The trial judge, Iyang Ekwo at the resumed trial, granted the application for leave of travel by Okorocha’s counsel, Wole Olaonipekun, SAN.

Olanipekun argued his client has health challenges and he would need to seek medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

The counsel assured the court Okorocha would not abuse the order and will return to the country for his trial.

Chile Okoroma, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), agreed to the request after his initial objection.

Having granted the request, Justice Ekwo ordered the Registrar of the court to release Okorocha’s traveling passport to him.

Ekwo ordered Okorocha to return the passport to the court registrar not later than three days of his arrival in the country.

Okorocha is facing a 17-count charges of stealing N2.9 billion of public funds.

He is standing trial along with a politician Nyerere Anyim. They are both alleged to have diverted funds belonging to the Imo State Government House and from local government joint accounts to private companies between 2014 and 2016.

The companies listed in the trial are Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

The court is to resume trial November 7.

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