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Court Clears Sen. Rochas Okorocha Of Corruption Charges
Senator Rochas Okorocha has been discharged by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) from corruption charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This marks the third time that Okorocha has been acquitted by courts regarding allegations of fraud and corruption during his tenure as the governor of Imo State from 2011 to 2019.
On Friday, Justice Halilu dismissed the charges against the former governor, stating that they constituted an abuse of court processes by the anti-graft agency.
The court emphasized that it was inappropriate for the EFCC to repeatedly file similar charges against a defendant in different courts, especially when a competent court had already made a decision on the matter.
It is worth noting that in a previous judgment in 2021, Justice Stephen Pam of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt declared the EFCC charge against Okorocha illegal, unlawful, null, and void, as it was based on an investigation deemed invalid.
Following the previous ruling, the judge specifically prohibited the EFCC from further prosecuting the former governor for any alleged offenses related to the aforementioned investigation.
However, on May 24, 2022, the commission arrested Okorocha after a siege lasting over six hours at his residence in Abuja.
Subsequently, Okorocha and six others were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja, accused of embezzling N2.9 billion belonging to the Government of Imo State.
Nonetheless, on February 6, Justice Inyang Ekwo delivered a ruling in which he struck out the charges against Okorocha and the others.
The charges were dismissed for contravening Section 105 (3) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, which grants the Attorney-General of the Federation the authority to recall a case.
Justice Ekwo maintained that the directive issued by the Attorney-General of the Federation in a letter dated September 12, 2022, instructing the EFCC to submit the case file with its comments for consideration and review, was binding on the commission.
The court concurred with Okorocha’s argument that the previous judgment from a court of equal jurisdiction in Port Harcourt, in a case numbered FHC/PH/FHR/165 between Okorocha and the EFCC, still stands. This judgment had restrained the agency from further pursuing the alleged offense.
However, dissatisfied with this outcome, the EFCC approached the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and initiated a fresh set of charges against the former governor.
In response, Okorocha, represented by his lawyer Chief Ola Olanipekun, SAN, raised a challenge against the competence of the charges through an application, asserting that they constituted an abuse of court processes.
On Friday, Justice Halilu delivered a ruling on the application, stating that it was inappropriate for the EFCC to file a case that had already been decided upon by a court of equal jurisdiction.
This was particularly significant since there was a court order preventing the anti-graft agency from prosecuting Okorocha based on an invalidated investigation.
The judge emphasized that the commission’s action of pursuing the same case in three different courts amounted to nothing less than an abuse of court processes.
Justice Halilu acknowledged that the EFCC, as an entity established by law, possesses broad investigatory and prosecutorial powers.
However, the judge emphasized the importance of the commission operating within the boundaries of the law, stating that the EFCC must demonstrate respect for the legal framework it operates under.
The court took into account the available evidence, which indicated that a Federal High Court had previously acquitted Okorocha of fraud and corruption charges filed by the EFCC in 2021.
While acknowledging that the commission acted correctly by appealing the judgment, Justice Halilu highlighted that it was inappropriate for the EFCC to approach another court of equal jurisdiction and file similar charges against Okorocha.
In addition to emphasizing that nobody or agency is exempt from the law, the court offered advice to the anti-graft agency, cautioning them to recognize the importance of bringing an end to litigation.
The court stated that when a case of abuse of court processes is established, the appropriate action is to dismiss the charges.
The court held “Once a case of abuse of court processes is established, the best thing to do is to dismiss the charge; the first defendant is hereby discharged.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Jos, Plateau State, alongside his wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima, ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign rally in the state.
The visit is part of the Tinubu–Shettima campaign’s engagements as the ruling party seeks to secure support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Shettima ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The campaign’s visit to Plateau is expected to highlight the Federal Government’s infrastructure and economic development projects in the state, particularly those aimed at improving road connectivity, boosting commerce and supporting agricultural activities.
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Among the projects highlighted by the administration is the ongoing 125-kilometre Akwanga–Jos highway, which forms part of the Akwanga–Bauchi–Gombe–Maiduguri Superhighway.
Other projects include the rehabilitation of the Sharram–Garram–Babban Lamba Road in Kanke and the approved Mararaban Jama’a–Kanke–Langtang–Shendam–Ibi Road, which is expected to improve connectivity between Plateau and Taraba states.
The administration says the projects are part of its broader development agenda to connect communities, facilitate access to markets and provide farmers and businesses with improved infrastructure.
The APC campaign is expected to use the rally to present the administration’s achievements and future plans while seeking the confidence of Plateau residents to continue its development agenda beyond 2027.
The Ogun State Police Command has presented cheques totalling ₦10.65 million to families and next-of-kin of deceased police officers who served under the command, as part of efforts to support dependants of personnel who died in active service.
The cheques, amounting to ₦10,658,391.36, were presented on Saturday, November 14, 2026, by the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, on behalf of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
The statement was signed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Command, DSP Oluseyi B. Babaseyi, anipr, and dated November 14, 2026.
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The presentation took place at the Command Headquarters in Eleweran, Abeokuta, under the Nigeria Police Force Group Life Assurance and the IGP Family Welfare Schemes.
The initiatives are designed to provide financial assistance to families of police officers who lost their lives while serving the country.
Accompanied by members of the Command Management Team, Ojajuni personally handed over the cheques to the beneficiaries.
Addressing the recipients, the police commissioner reaffirmed the Inspector-General’s commitment to the welfare of police personnel and their families.
He described the widows and families of the deceased officers as the “true superheroes”, acknowledging their resilience in coping with the loss of their loved ones who died in service to the nation.
Ojajuni noted that the financial intervention was a demonstration of the Force’s appreciation and institutional responsibility to support the families of fallen officers.
He said the initiative represented the Nigeria Police Force’s enduring commitment to standing by the dependants of personnel who paid the ultimate price in active service.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Ejembi Ada Veronica thanked the Inspector-General of Police and the Ogun State Police Command for remembering their families and providing financial assistance.
She assured the authorities that the money would be channelled towards the education, upkeep and general welfare of the children and dependants left behind by the deceased officers.
According to her, the intervention would provide timely relief and help improve the stability of the affected families.
The Ogun State Police Command reiterated its commitment to supporting the families of fallen officers, assuring them of its continued solidarity.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has screened 28 oil and gas wells around reported gas seepage locations in Bille Community, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State, identifying three as high-risk, as investigations continue to establish the source of the bubbling gas.
The Commission disclosed that its investigation team physically visited 14 of the 28 wells screened but could not access three others because they were submerged. During the visits, the team observed gas hissing from some wells, while some facilities were found to be corroded and others vandalised.
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The update was made on Thursday during a special technical paper presentation at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).
The paper, titled “Unravelling Gas Seepage and Bubbling in Nigeria: The Integrated Study Approach Towards Source Attribution,” was hosted by the NUPRC.
In his presentation, the Director of Subsurface Development at the NUPRC, Engr. Joseph Ogunsola, FNSE, described gas seepage as a new phenomenon in the Nigerian petroleum industry, prompting the Commission to constitute a team to investigate what lies beneath the bubbles.
Ogunsola was represented by the Senior Manager, Onshore Frontier Development Drilling, Mr. Azibamikiomam John-Adumo, a geologist.
He disclosed that studies conducted in one of the affected areas had helped unravel the structural threat associated with the phenomenon.
According to him, one of the wells was originally drilled in search of oil but was shut down following the discovery of gas instead.
He explained that the well is approximately 2.5 kilometres from the seepage location, adding that investigations are ongoing to establish whether the seepage originates from that particular well or other nearby wells.
He further disclosed that the distance between the seepage location and other wells ranges from 2.5 to three kilometres, noting that the area is highly explored and hydrocarbon-charged, as demonstrated by the number of wells in the vicinity.
Providing an update on the wells workstream, which falls under the facility and infrastructure component of the investigation, John-Adumo said the 28 wells were screened based on their proximity to the seepage locations and the reservoirs traversed during drilling.
He also explained that the investigation had progressed from the first reported bubble to an independent fingerprinting campaign within 12 months.
Recalling that the first seepage was observed in October 2025, he said the results of the independent investigation, using Gas Chromatography-Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (GC-IRMS) and compositional field analysis, were expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
While investigations continue, John-Adumo said the Commission and operators had mobilised relief materials and other support for affected communities.
The interventions include food supplies, medical outreach, efforts to provide potable water, fire vans and safety kits, among other assistance.
He, however, warned that if the seepage is established to be a natural geological phenomenon, residents may need to be evacuated because tracing the migration pathways and designing subsurface interventions could be much more challenging.
He reiterated the Commission’s commitment to a speedy, coordinated and integrated investigation to establish the source of the gas seepage.
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