A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) identified as Sincere Concern Organisation (SCO) INC., has given the Imo State government a one-month ultimatum to take immediate steps to implement fully the White Paper on recovery of stolen property, especially the more than N130 billion illegally held by the former governor Rochas Okorocha.
The NGO’s Director General, Mrs. Foluke Olabimbe-Lemechi, who addressed reporters in Owerri yesterday, said that if after the ultimatum’s expiration, Okorocha has not returned the money or he is not in jail, they shall take all lawful steps to ensure that justice is served.
She said; “If after the expiration of the ultimatum, Okorocha has not returned the money or he is not in jail, we shall take all lawful steps to ensure that justice is served, so that would-be public office holders would not think it is the norm to steal from the public purse and go free.
“We know that the Justice Iheka Panel on award of contracts specifically ordered that Owelle Rochas Okorocha should refund far above N130 billion in physical cash to the state, being the sum he siphoned to his personal coffers through phoney contracts. The government was also empowered to recover other stolen assets.
“Imo people were ecstatic when the current administration started implementation of the White Paper with the recovery of the K. O. Mbadiwe University at Ogboko. The so-called Shell camp land at Works Layout has been recovered, but we know that several others, including the amount far above N130 billion, are still with Okorocha.
“That is why we are here today. And that explains our sadness and frustration. We are here to express our displeasure with the government for its failure to fully implement recommendations of the White Paper, especially on the recovery of the humongous amount of money looted by Okorocha.”
Mrs. Olabimbe-Lemechi added that Okorocha should be behind bars by now if he was obdurate concerning the refund of assets and money he stole from Imo people.
“But because he is still in possession of that ill gotten loot, Okorocha is now plotting to buy his way to power through a proxy. Because government is foot dragging, Okorocha now has the effrontery to spit on the faces of Imo people, especially those who have been impoverished by his rapacious tyranny. His audacity in the face of this mindless looting of our shared patrimony rankles, and that is why we are angry with what is happening.
“While we have refrained from taking the law into our hands, waiting for the government and the judiciary to bring Rochas Okorocha to justice, we wish to inform Nigerians that our patience is running thin each passing day. We don’t want the victims of Okorocha’s brigandage and open robbery to die before the emperor is brought to justice. We don’t want to wait until Okorocha succeeds in installing a stooge as governor to continue the looting spree before he is stopped.
“Consequently, we are giving the government of Hope Uzodimma a one-month ultimatum to take immediate steps to implement fully the White Paper on recovery of stolen property, especially the more than N130 billion illegally held by Okorocha.”