Let delegates stop my presidential ambition, not EFCC, says Okorocha

Embattled former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates and Nigerians should be the ones to stop his presidential ambition, rather than the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

His views were contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Sam Onwuemedo, and made available to journalists, yesterday.

The statement reads: “We only appeal that, while doing its works, EFCC should avoid ‘strange hands’ in its operations. We are yet to detach politics from Okorocha’s ordeal. We may be right or wrong. It’s our candid appeal that the commission should not stop Okorocha’s presidential ambition. Let the APC delegates or Nigerians do that.

“We have been very unwilling to join issues with the EFCC over its case with the former governor and Senator Representing lmo West Senatorial District.

“The personnel of the EFCC, with armed security agents in their large number, stormed the private residence of the former governor in Abuja to arrest him.

“He is a presidential aspirant on the platform of APC. And the party’s screening for the presidential aspirants was originally fixed for yesterday.”

Insisting that the motive behind Okorocha’s arrest was to frustrate his ambition of being the president of the country, the statement noted: “The conclusion, on our part, was that those who had sworn to frustrate Okorocha’s presidential ambition or pursuit, have not relented. And this apprehension had necessitated Okorocha’s demand for either a warrant of arrest or court order from the security personnel, who laid siege to his house.

“None was provided. The security personnel finally deployed force to arrest Okorocha, without any warrant or court order. And if there was any, it could also be made public.”