A high court in Owerri on Monday ordered “final and absolute” forfeiture of contested properties linked to former governor Rochas Okorocha to Imo state government.
The property are listed on 46 pages of the state government white paper on recovery of lands and properties belonging to Imo state.
The white paper from a judicial commission of inquiry on landed property, led by Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe, recommends that all properties listed on page 226 to 272 be forfeited to the state.
Justice Fred Njemanze, sitting as a vacation judge and due for retirement on Wednesday August 11, ruled that Okorocha failed to give concrete and verifiable reasons why a final and absolute forfeiture order should not be given in favour of Imo state.
Okorocha however, through his counsel vowed to appeal the judgment.
His counsel faulted the judgment, saying he had raised a preliminary objection to the fact Okorocha had filed around 47 cases in various courts going back to 2019 challenging the takeover of his property.
Among the property forfeited were East High Academy, Eastern Palm University, Ogboko; Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments, IBC staff quarters said to have been illegally acquired for the purpose of Rochas Foundation College, Owerri magistrate quarters, Orlu road/cooperative office/Girls Guide allegedly converted to private use housing market square, Kilimanjaro eatery.
Others are Public building plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout given to the ministry of women affairs for establishing a skills acquisition centre for women, allegedly acquired for the benefit of Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha’s all-in stall, Aba road, Plot P5, Naze residential layout, initially part of Primary School Management Board but now annexed to All-In stall, Aba Road, belonging to Nkechi Okorocha, and all other properties contained from pages 226 to 272 of the government white paper on the recommendation of the judicial commission of inquiry into land administration in Imo state from June 2006 to May 2019.
Addressing Journalists at the court premises, counsel to Okorocha’s wife, Oba Maduagwu, SAN, said that the order was an abuse of court procedure.
