The scheduled arraignment of the former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha at the Federal High Court in Abuja on alleged N2.9Bn corruption charges has been stalled due to his absence in court.
Okorocha who is a serving Senator representing Imo West in the Senate was not represented by any legal practitioner.
However, six other defendants billed to be arraigned along with him on the 17-count corruption charges were present oyn court with their legal representatives.
When the matter was mentioned on Tuesday, counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Cosmos Ugwu told Justice Inyang Ekwo that the former Imo State governor has been evading service of the criminal charges as required by law.
He also indicated that security operatives guiding the Senator have made it impossible for him to be served in person by court officials.
The prosecution counsel therefore requested for an adjournment which was not opposed by the other defendants in the case.
Justice Ekwo subsequently fixed March 28 to enable EFCC serve him with the charge and for taking of his plea. According to EFCC, Okorocha allegedly conspired with others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion public funds.
