A Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday granted bail to the former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.
Okorocha is facing 17-count charges alongside a politiciane, Nyerere Anyim, for allegedly diverting funds from the Imo State Government House and local government joint accounts to private companies between 2014 and 2016.
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Justice Inyang Ekwo in a ruling on the bail application ordered Okorocha to produce one surety in the like sum of N500m in bond.
The surety must have a landed property in Abuja worth N500m and the registrar of the court must verify the title document.
The court ordered him to deposit his international passport with the court’s registrar who will in turn inform the Nigerian Immigration Service about the status of the travel document.
The judge also ordered Okorocha to make himself available to the court regularly.
The judge ordered that the second defendant, Anyim, remain on the administrative bail he is already enjoying with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited, did not object to the adjournment of the matter.
Okorocha, who is the senator for Imo West Senatorial District and presidential aspirant of the All Progressive Congress, was arrested on May 25 in his Abuja home on allegations of jumping an administrative bail and failing to honour invitations.
The case was adjourned to November 7 for the hearing.
