ABUJA—The former governor of Imo State, Chief
Ikedi Ohakim, on Thursday, failed to persuade the
Federal High Court in Abuja to quash the three-
count criminal charge the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.
Ikedi Ohakim, on Thursday, failed to persuade the
Federal High Court in Abuja to quash the three-
count criminal charge the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.
The court, in a ruling by Justice Ademola Adeniyi,
held that the former governor who piloted the affairs
of Imo state between May 2007 and May 2011, has
a case to answer pertaining to the charges against
him.
The charges border on money laundering, abuse of
office and misappropriation of public funds.
Justice Adeniyi held that the anti-graft agency
successfully established a prima-facie criminal case
against the defendant that would warrant him to
enter his defence before the court.
Consequently, Ohakim’s no-case-submission was
dismissed by the court which ordered the former
governor to open his defence on October 10.
The charge against Ohakim arose from his alleged
purchase of the property at 60, Kwame Nkrumah
Street, Plot No 1098, Cadastral ZoneA04, Asokoro
District, Abuja with cash payment of $2.29m which
was said to be dollar equivalent of N270m in
November 2008.
The property, according to the agency, was acquired
with funds the defendant allegedly laundered from
Imo state treasury.
He was also accused of failing to declare the
property as part of his assets when asked by the
EFCC to do so.
The prosecution said the erstwhile governor violated
section 15(1)(d) and section 14(1)(b) of the Money
Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004. Ohakim was
said to have paid for the property in cash.
