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The Government of Imo State has been given a one-month ultimatum to fully implement the White paper that indicted the immediate past Senator that represented Imo West, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, of allegedly looting more than ₦130 billion from the State’s coffers while he was Governor.
At a world press conference in Owerri Wednesday, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Sincere Concern Organization Inc, regretted that the non-implementation of the White paper has emboldened the former Governor to attempt to return to the Government through a proxy.
The Director General of the Organization, Mrs Foluke Olabimbe Lemechi said the group was saddened that two years after the publication of the White paper which indicted the former Governor of widespread looting, the Government was foot-dragging on the issue.
It noted that Okorocha has taken advantage of that lacuna to now plot on how to sponsor a candidate for the November Governorship election in Imo State so as to escape justice.
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It declared: ‘We don’t want the victims of Okorocha’s brigandage and open robbery to die before the emperor is brought to justice. We don’t want to wait until Okorocha succeeds in installing a stooge as Governor to continue the looting spree before he is stopped.’
The group disclosed that if at the expiration of the one-month ultimatum, the Imo State Government has not moved against Okorocha to return the stolen money and assets, it would mobilize the youths to act through lawful means.
The group said: ‘If after the expiration of the ultimatum, Okorocha has not returned the money or he is not in jail, we shall take lawful steps to ensure that justice is served so that would be Public Office holders would not think that it is a norm to steal from the public purse and go scot free.’
The NGO which commended the State Government for recovering the KO Mbadiwe University and Palm Garden Estate from Okorocha, however urged it to do more in the interest of Imo people.
It recalled that the Commission of Inquiry which was set up by the government of Hon Emeka Ihedioha had indicted Okorocha of looting more than N130b through phoney contract awards while he and his family appropriated Government and private lands to themselves.
The group feared that the non-prosecution and possible jailing of the former Governor was responsible for his current grandstanding of planning to install a stooge as Governor.
