Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday granted bail to a former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The anti-graft agency disclosed this in a statement.
Okorocha was arraigned on Monday, May 30, 2022, alongside Anyim Nyerere (a.k.a Anyim Chinenye), Naphtali International Ltd, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Ltd, Consolid Projects Consulting Ltd, Pramif International Ltd and Legend World Concepts Ltd on 17-count charge of stealing, conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N3.14 billion.
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“At today sitting, counsel for the first defendant, Oke, Amaechi, SAN, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail, arguing that it is his constitutional right.
“But counsel for the prosecution, Cosmos Ugwu had opposed the bail application on the grounds that the first defendant did not keep the terms of the administrative bail granted him by the Commission.
“In granting the bail, Justice Ekwo stated that granting bail was the discretion of the court. The judge then granted the first defendant bail in the sum of N500m with one surety,” the statement read.
The judge also fixed November 7 for commencement of trial.