Okorocha said the AGF has nothing to do with the invasion, and that he knew those who organized the siege and those were the ones he would sue.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, and his office have been exonerated from the invasion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the residence of former Imo Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
Okorocha is the Senator representing Imo West and a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Recall that the EFCC arrested Okorocha on May 24 after several hours of siege on his Abuja residence. The operatives, after keeping vigil for hours, later broke into Okorocha’s apartment through the roof and took him away.
Some media reports said Okorocha engaged five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) to press charges against the EFCC and Malami for N1 billion.
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But a statement by Sam Onwuemeodo, Special Adviser (media) to Okorocha, said the report is not true.
The statement exonerated the AGF from the invasion and said Okorocha knew the people that organized the siege and those were the ones he would sue.
The statement reads: “Our attention was drawn to online stories, with the referenced caption, late last night.
“1. Senator Rochas Okorocha, has been in EFCC custody since the agents of the commission stormed his house and arrested him.
“2. The Commission took him to court on Monday, May 30, 2022, with other accused persons in the matter.
“3. The Presiding judge, in his wisdom, adjourned the matter to Tuesday, May 31, 2022, for Okorocha’s bail application to be taken or heard.
“4. We were concerned with the expected hearing of the bail application today when our attention was drawn to the online stories of the N1b suit and engagement of 5 SANS.
“5. Okorocha has no reason to take either the Attorney General of the Federation or the office of the Attorney General of the Federation, to court and claim N1b damages, over the invasion of his house, since the incident had nothing to do with AGF or his office.
“6. if Okorocha comes out of detention and along the line, decides to take legal action to press for damages, over the invasion of his residence, he knows those who carried out the action. We do not think he would include the AGF or his office.
“7. We know that some patriotic Human Rights Lawyers in the Country and some of them, highly respected SANs, have been of immense help in dealing with human rights violations in the country, most of the time, on their own to help the society.
“8. We are therefore having the feeling that the renowned Senior Advocates mentioned in the online stories, might have been challenged by the invasion of Okorocha’s private residence by agents of the EFCC and might have also decided to take the bull by the horns.
“9. We thank them. If Okorocha comes out of detention and decides to walk in that direction, fine. But one fact would be made clear and that is, that the AGF and the office of AGF would not be parts of the action, because they had nothing to do with the invasion of Okorocha’s private residence.
“10. We have done this, to keep the record straight. We are looking forward to seeing Okorocha out of detention by the GRACE OF GOD and the magnanimity of His LORDSHIP, handling the case.”
