A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Sincere Concern Organisation (SCO) INC., has given the Imo State government one month to implement the White Paper on the recovery of stolen property, especially the more than N130 billion illegally held by former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
The NGO’s Director General, Mrs. Foluke Olabimbe-Lemechi, who addressed reporters in Owerri yesterday, said the group would take all lawful steps to ensure justice is served if Okorocha does not return the money, or is not in jail, by the end of the ultimatum.
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.
