Rochas Okorocha’s camp believes his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is politically motivated.
The Senator representing the lmo West District is facing charges of misappropriation of state funds.
On Tuesday, EFCC officials and security agents broke into his home in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and kidnapped him.
Okorocha was accused by the commission of ignoring multiple invitations and evading administrative bail.
However, his spokesman, Sam Onwuemeodo, questioned why the arrest occurred during the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate screening.
The aide stated in a statement that those who swore to thwart Okorocha’s ambition have not changed their minds.
According to Onwuemeodo, his principal’s arrest prompted the anti-graft agency to issue a warrant of arrest or a court order.
“None was provided. The security personnel finally employed force to arrest Okorocha, without any warrant or court order. If there was any, it could also be made public”, he wrote.
Onwuemeodo recalled that on the day Okorocha declared to run for the office of President, the EFCC invaded the venue to arrest him.
“They claimed they had come to arrest Okorocha and arraign him even when he had not been served. The general outcry by the public saved the situation,” he said.
He said the latest event occurred less than 48 hours after the lawmaker hosted the meeting of APC presidential aspirants from the South-East.
Onwuemeodo warned that if Okorocha is blocked from his bid, over a matter he is deemed innocent until proved otherwise, “it won’t be a nice story for history and posterity.
“We have refused to believe some valid pieces of information at our disposal, on those working to stop Okorocha from exercising his constitutional right.
“The reason for our doubt is that Okorocha has not done anything to warrant such onslaught.”
He stressed that the ex-governor has “sacrificed a lot for Nigeria”, thus stopping his quest for the presidency “would be most uncharitable and very unfortunate”.
The statement further advised the EFCC to avoid “strange hands” in its operations.
“We are yet to detach politics from Okorocha’s ordeal. The commission should not abort Okorocha’s presidential ambition. Let the APC delegates or Nigerians do that”, Onwuemeodo added.
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