Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested a presidential aspirant of the ruling APC party Senator Rochas Okorocha just days to the party’s presidential primaries.
News Central on Tuesday night had reported that the anti-graft operatives invaded the home of the Presidential aspirant.
The EFCC arrested Rochas Okorocha in Abuja on suspicion of corruption involving the misappropriation of 2.9 billion naira in public funds and property.
The alleged offenses occurred between 2011 and 2019, while he was governor of the south-eastern state of Imo. He previously denied the charges.
The 59-year-old politician is currently a senator and is former Governor of Imo State. He is being detained by the EFCC.
According to reports, there was an hour-long standoff between Okorocha supporters and anti-graft operatives at his residence during his arrest.
His supporters believe the arrest is an attempt to derail his presidential campaign.
However, the EFCC stated in a statement that it was “left with no option” after Okorocha jumped bail and failed to appear for questioning.
The EFCC has launched an anti-corruption campaign, which has resulted in the arrest of the country’s accountant-general, who denies any wrongdoing.
Nigeria will hold elections in February 2019 to select a successor to President Muhammadu Buhari, whose second term ends in May.