Former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, is presently at the Federal High Court, Abuja, in connection with the 17-count money laundering charge against him.
He was brought before the court on Monday by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He is facing trial over allegations that he conspired with some individuals to steal N2.9 billion from the public coffers.
He was alleged to have diverted several funds between October 2014 and February 2016 from the Imo State Government House account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account.
He was charged alongside a chieftain of the All Progressive, APC, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, and five companies- Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.
The New Diplomat had reported that the operatives of the anti-graft agency last Tuesday, May 24, arrested Okorocha at his Abuja residence, in an operation that lasted over seven hours.
The EFCC had accused Okorocha of deliberately evading service of the charge on him.
The arrest followed alleged refusal by the former governor to make himself available for trial.
Okorocha, who is currently the Senator representing Imo West, had earlier declared his intention to contest for presidency in the 2023 general elections.
