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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ruled against former Imo State governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha’s request to grant a restraining order stopping the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and a probe panel set up in the state from investigating him on alleged financial infractions.
Senator Okorocha had asked the court to suspend or end the EFCC’s investigation against him, including all the petitions submitted to it by the Imo government until the panel on contract set up by the same state government had concluded its probe on his government between 2011 and 2019.
Oba Maduabuchi (SAN), counsel to the senator representing Imo West Senatorial district, informed the court that the defence counsel asked for an adjournment to respond to processes served on them and also asked the court to stop those involved in the suit from going ahead with the probe pending the determination of the matter.
The counsel to 2nd to 48th defendants, J.M. Madu quickly interjected that the probe panel had not commenced sitting, while promising to inform the Imo State Attorney-General about the development.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed however struck out the request by the former governor, stating that it would be of no use to grant a restraining order since Madu had undertaken to tell the parties not to go ahead with the probe pending when the matter would be determined.
Justice Mohammed added that since the EFCC was not represented in court, it would be unfair to grant the request in the interest of justice.