The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has filed N2.9 billion fraud charges against former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
This is coming the same day the for governor declared his interest to vie for the 2023 presidency.
Also listed in the charge were an APC politician and five companies.
They were alleged to have conspired to steal N2.9 billion public coffers.
The 17 count charges were filed by the EFCC on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, according to Premium Times.
Other defendants in the case are Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
Earlier in the day, Okorocha declared his interest to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC.
The former governor, at a news conference in Abuja to declare his interest for presidency, highlighted education, security, youths and women empowerment, economic revitalization, unity, and poverty eradication as parts of the cardinals of his policies, when elected the President of Nigeria.
Okorocha said he contested for President of Nigeria 20 years ago, in 2007 and also in 2014, adding that he was not too old to run and that he joined the 2023 race for what he could offer.
He said: “I’m not too young to run and I’m not too old to run. I’m the bridge between the youth and elders. I’m just 59 years old.
“I’m not in politics for what I can gain, I’m in politics for what I can offer. I did not make my money through politics. If you are in doubt, go and ask the Code of Conduct Bureau, I was already made before becoming the Governor of Imo State. If there is anyone who was like me before venturing into politics, let the person come out and speak,” he said.
